Netflix has officially confirmed that Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will premiere globally on December 12, 2025. Before hitting the platform, the film will also enjoy a select theatrical release beginning November 26, 2025.
The announcement came with brand-new teaser art, a trailer, and an expanded synopsis that gives fans their first detailed look at Benoit Blanc’s darkest case yet.
Watch the Clip
Festival Premieres
Before its Netflix debut, Wake Up Dead Man will make a splash on the festival circuit:
- World Premiere: Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025
- European Premiere: Opening night of the 69th BFI London Film Festival on October 8, 2025
Wake Up Dead Man: Full Synopsis
Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) returns for his most dangerous case yet in the third and darkest chapter of Rian Johnson’s acclaimed mystery series.
When young priest Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), it quickly becomes clear that all is not well in the parish. Wicks’s devoted but fractured congregation includes:
- Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close), a devout churchgoer
- Samson Holt (Thomas Haden Church), the circumspect groundskeeper
- Vera Draven, Esq. (Kerry Washington), a tightly-wound lawyer
- Cy Draven (Daryl McCormack), an ambitious politician
- Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner), the town doctor
- Lee Ross (Andrew Scott), a best-selling author
- Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny), a gifted concert cellist
When a shocking and seemingly impossible murder rocks the community, local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) teams up with Blanc to untangle a mystery that defies all logic.
The Cast
Wake Up Dead Man features another powerhouse ensemble, including:
- Daniel Craig
- Josh O’Connor
- Glenn Close
- Josh Brolin
- Mila Kunis
- Jeremy Renner
- Kerry Washington
- Andrew Scott
- Cailee Spaeny
- Daryl McCormack
- Thomas Haden Church
Behind the Scenes
The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson, who also produces with Ram Bergman. It continues Netflix’s multi-project deal with Johnson following Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion (2022).
A Darker Turn for Benoit Blanc
Unlike the grand estates of Knives Out or the sun-soaked Greek island of Glass Onion, Wake Up Dead Man places Blanc inside a cloistered religious community. The noir-leaning tone, paired with existential themes hinted at in the film’s title, suggests the most atmospheric and unsettling Blanc case yet.
Key Dates to Remember
- September 6, 2025 – World Premiere at TIFF
- October 8, 2025 – BFI London Film Festival opening night
- November 26, 2025 – Select U.S. theatrical release
- December 12, 2025 – Netflix worldwide release
With festival debuts, a select theatrical run, and an all-star cast, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is set to be one of Netflix’s high-profile premieres of the year.
Fans of murder mysteries and Rian Johnson’s unique spin on the genre won’t want to miss the release of Wake Up Dead Man on Netflix this December.
The Poster
