The Return of Benoit Blanc: What We Know About ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, so can we just talk about the fact that we’re getting another Knives Out movie? I was scrolling through my phone the other day, and Rian Johnson’s announcement video just popped up. He’s sitting there, with that classic, slightly mischievous look, and just drops the title: *Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery*. My first thought was, “That sounds intense.” It’s a much darker, more urgent title than *Glass Onion*, right? It immediately got me wondering what kind of messy, morally grey world Benoit Blanc is about to step into this time.

We don’t have all the pieces yet, but the bits and pieces that are floating around are seriously exciting. The biggest news, of course, is the cast. Daniel Craig is back as our favorite drawling, brilliant detective. But the people joining him? It’s kind of insane. We’ve got Josh O’Connor, fresh off his Prince Charles role in *The Crown*, and Cailee Spaeny, who was just phenomenal in *Priscilla*. Now, imagine those two in a Knives Out movie. Josh has this incredible ability to play characters who are both charming and deeply flawed, and Cailee can convey so much with just a look. I have a feeling they’re going to be at the very center of this new mystery.

And that’s not even the whole list. We’re also getting Andrew Scott. Yes, the “Hot Priest” from *Fleabag*. But if you’ve seen him in *Ripley* or *All of Us Strangers*, you know he can bring this unsettling, magnetic energy that is just perfect for a murder mystery. Throw in Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, and the legendary Mila Kunis, and you have a powder keg of talent. Rian Johnson has a knack for assembling these incredible ensembles where every single actor feels perfectly cast. I’m already trying to guess who the victim will be and who the killer might be, but with this group, it’s impossible to tell. That’s the fun of it.

So, what’s the vibe going to be? Rian Johnson called it a “benoit Blanc mystery,” which is fun, but he also said it’s his “most film-y” film yet and that it’s going to be a “real, big, gnarly, scary, fun,,” Knives Out movie. The “scary” part is what’s new. *Knives Out* had a gothic, almost cozy mystery feel, and *Glass Onion* was this bright, satirical tech-bro romp. *Wake Up Dead Man* sounds like it’s leaning into something more sinister. That title alone gives me chills. It makes me think of a Southern Gothic tale, something with a darker heart and higher stakes. Maybe it’s set in a remote, decaying mansion where the secrets are buried much deeper.

This got me thinking about other franchises that aren’t afraid to shift tone. It’s a risky move, but when it works, it’s brilliant. It reminds me a bit of how the *Kirby* video game series sometimes operates. I was reading a review of *Kirby Air Riders* the other day – stay with me here – and the reviewer pointed out how the game isn’t just a straightforward kart racer. It has this “City Trial” mode that’s all about chaos and adaptation, changing the feel of the game entirely from one moment to the next. The review said it was “fast and out of control,” and that the party-oriented modes were a highlight because they embraced unpredictability. That’s what a great franchise does; it knows its core (for Kirby, it’s cute but chaotic gameplay; for Knives Out, it’s a whodunit with social commentary) but isn’t afraid to remix the formula. Johnson seems to be doing the same thing—keeping the core of Benoit Blanc but plunging him into a different genre tone, making it feel fresh and, as that review might say, a little “out of control” in the best way.

One of the things I love most about these movies is how they make you feel smart. You’re not just a passive viewer; you’re an active participant. I remember watching the first *Knives Out* with a group of friends, and we were all shouting our theories at the screen. Every little detail, from a coffee mug to a specific line of dialogue, feels like a potential clue. By the time the third act comes around, you’re on the edge of your seat, trying to piece it all together before Blanc lays it all out in that magnificent, monologuing finale. It’s a shared experience, a puzzle you get to solve with the characters. I have no doubt *Wake Up Dead Man* will deliver that same razor-sharp script and those “aha!” moments.

Of course, with all this hype, there’s always a little bit of worry. The “threequel curse” is a real thing in Hollywood. Can Johnson pull off another masterpiece? Can he keep the formula from feeling stale? But if anyone can do it, it’s him. He’s a genuine fan of the mystery genre, and he approaches it with both deep respect and a desire to deconstruct it. He’s not just making a movie; he’s having a conversation with Agatha Christie and all the greats that came before him. He’s proven with *Glass Onion* that the world of Benoit Blanc is big enough to tell vastly different stories, so I’m choosing to be optimistic.

The production is slated to start soon, and a 2025 release seems almost certain. The wait is going to be agonizing. In the meantime, I’ll probably rewatch the first two movies, looking for any little threads I might have missed. Maybe there’s a clue hidden in plain sight about where Blanc is headed next. One thing’s for sure: when *Wake Up Dead Man* finally hits theaters, it’s going to be an event. It’s the kind of movie you go see with a crowd, where you can gasp and laugh and try to outsmart the world’s greatest detective together. I, for one, cannot wait to be back in that world, trying to solve another one of Rian Johnson’s brilliantly constructed puzzles.