Prepare for another mystery inKnives Out 3. Rian Johnson is back to write and direct the latest installment in the Knives Out franchise.Knives Outpremiered in 2019 and became a critical and commercial success, grossing over $312 million on a rumored budget of $40 million. After the success ofKnives Out, Netflix paid over $450 million for two more Knives Out sequels from Johnson.
The first sequel,Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,arrived on Netflix in December 2022. Like its predecessor,Glass Onionwas a popular hit, becoming the 10thmost popular English-language film on Netflix. Here’s everything you need to know aboutKnives Out 3, including the plot, cast, date, and trailer.
What is the official title of Knives Out 3?
The next Benoit Blanc mystery, the follow-up to Knives Out and Glass Onion, is called Wake Up Dead Man.pic.twitter.com/pdDXRDmwcI
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson)August 13, 2025
The official title forKnives Out 3isWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.Johnsonannounced the news on X(formerly Twitter) on June 03, 2025. AfterKnives Out, the two subsequent titles —Glass OnionandWake Up Dead Man —have the monikerA Knives Out Mysteryattached at the end.
Wake Up Dead Manshares its title with a U2 song from their 1997 albumPop. “Popis a very underrated album, and that song is very right for the title,” Johnson toldTudum. “But I’ve hadWake Up Dead Manin my head for a long while, and I first heard the phrase in American folk music.”
Will Daniel Craig return for Knives Out 3?
You bet. Craig is returning for the third installment as Benoit Blanc, a private detective tasked with solving the murders at the heart of the first two films. Expect Blanc to be called upon to solve another mystery inWake Up Dead Man.
Who is in the cast of Knives Out 3?
Exclusive: Thomas Haden Church is the latest actor to join the cast of “Knives Out 3.”
The ensemble now includes Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner and Josh Brolin.https://t.co/mVNqdeoZfi
— TheWrap (@TheWrap)June 13, 2025
Like its predecessors,Knives Out 3will feature a large ensemble cast. Besides Craig, actors that have signed on forWake Up Dead Maninclude Josh O’Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, Daryl McCormack, Josh Brolin, and Thomas Haden Church.
What’s more, we now have some information on who each of them will be playing:
What is the plot of Knives Out 3?
Plot details forKnives Out 3remain under wraps. The first two films involved a murder, with Blanc using his detective skills to solve the mystery. Agatha Christie’s whodunit novels serve as the inspiration behind the franchise. Therefore, it’s safe to assume that another murder will be at the center ofKnives Out 3.
When did Knives Out 3 start production?
We’re about to go into production on the 3rd one, and I’m very, very excited to share the title, which gives a little hint of where it’s going.
Knives Out 3began production on June 10. After announcing the title, Johnson also spoke about his love for whodunits and when the film would begin filming.
“We’re about to go into production on the 3rd one, and I’m very, very excited to share the title,” Johnson wrote onX(formerly Twitter).
Does Knives Out 3 have a location?
Like the plot details, the location ofKnives Out 3is under wraps. However,Knives Out 3is filming in London. Based on set photos, a cemetery has served as one of the film’s locations. Location is an essential part of the Knives Out franchise.Knives Outtranspired at a Massachusetts mansion, andGlass Onionoccurred at a mansion on a private island in Greece.
Does Knives Out 3 have a release date?
Knives Out 3will stream globally on Netflix on August 19, 2025. Netflix first announced the release date at their TUDUM event. The movie is set to hit Netflix three years afterGlass Onion, which hit Netflix three years afterKnives Outfirst hit theaters.
Is there a trailer for Knives Out 3?
While we still don’t have an official trailer forWake Up Dead Man, we did get a few glimpses during the announcement of the film’s release date. That teaser does give us glimpses of the entire cast, as well as some looks at a cemetery and some narration from Benoit Blanc. In that narration, Blanc suggests that what looks like an “impossible crime” was in fact just a murder. While it doesn’t give us much of a sense of the plot, it does give us a slightly more somber mood than the previous installment.
Daniel Craig unveils new hairstyle for Knives Out 3
Aaaaand we’re off! Today is day 1 of shooting on the next Benoit Blanc mystery “Wake Up Dead Man” – see you on the other side.pic.twitter.com/Napfvq1zXT
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson)July 26, 2025
Johnson shared the first image of Craig’s Benoit Blanc on June 10 to signal the start of production onKnives Out 3.Blanc has noticeably longer hair in the black-and-white photo. “Aaaaand we’re off! Today is day 1 of shooting on the next Benoit Blanc mysteryWake Up Dead Man— see you on the other side,” Johnson wrote onX (formerly Twitter).
More set images from Knives Out 3 surface online
On June 11, more images from the set ofKnives Out 3emerged online. They’re from only the second day of filming, but that didn’t stop eagle-eyed photographers from grabbing unofficial pictures and posting them for our pleasure.
We can only guess what they are filming, so let’s have at it: It appears Daniel Craig’s Benoit is conferring with Mila Kunis’ policewoman and Josh O’Connor’s character in a park. Craig and O’Connor appear to be presenting a file to Kunis, who is reading it thoroughly.
Brolin’s character was seen dressed as a priest as he spoke Spaeny’s character in a wheelchair. O’Connor was also spotted as a priest. Because of the film’s title, Brolin, O’Connor, and Spaeny are likely filming in a cemetery.
Cailee Spaeny and Josh Brolin on the set of ‘KNIVES OUT 3’ aka ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’.pic.twitter.com/5mGA5MfV9F
— Cailee Spaeny Updates (@spaenyupdates)June 02, 2025
Knives Out 3 wraps filming
Aaaand that’s a wrap on Wake Up Dead Man. Went so fast! Best crew, incredible cast, this was a really special shoot and I cannot wait to put it together.pic.twitter.com/N32Z6qOITy
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson)Jun 11, 2025
On August 17, Johnson posted a photo on X (formerly Twitter) and announced thatKnives Out 3has wrapped filming. The photo is a picture in a cemetery that reads: “Please be mindful of the graves.”
“Aaaand that’s a wrap onWake Up Dead Man,”Johnson wrote. “Went so fast! Best crew, incredible cast, this was a really special shoot and I cannot wait to put it together.”
Johnson now heads into post-production. IfWake Up Dead Manfollows its predecessors’ release dates, Johnson will have a year to edit before it premieres at a fall festival.
