The third film in Rian Johnson’s acclaimed whodunit franchise, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, is set for its digital release after a selective theatrical run. The crime thriller, led once again by Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc, premiered in cinemas on November 26, 2025, and will now stream globally.
When is the OTT premiere?
The film, which introduces gothic undertones for the first time in the franchise, will begin streaming on Netflix from December 12, 2025. Set in the fictional town of Chimney Rock, New York, the story follows Reverend Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), a former boxer-turned-priest, and his mentor Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). When Wicks is found murdered, Benoit Blanc is called in to unravel the chilling mystery.
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The cast includes a fresh ensemble, continuing Johnson’s tradition of building each instalment around new faces. This time, the roster features Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny and Daryl McCormack, among others.
Will there be a fourth Knives Out film?
Ahead of the film’s theatrical release, director Rian Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter in October 2025 that he had not yet conceptualised a fourth instalment. However, a month later, during the Los Angeles premiere, he hinted that discussions had begun after wrapping the third movie.
Johnson said he felt “creatively energised” and revealed that he and Daniel Craig had already started speaking about what the next story could be. “Daniel and I are already starting to formulate what could the next one be if we do another one,” he said.
During the same conversation, Johnson added that he would once again prefer an entirely new cast if a sequel moves forward, consistent with how each film in the franchise has been designed. He emphasised that as long as the films remain compelling, he sees no reason to stop. “I don’t know why I would stop doing it if we could keep making them,” he said.
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The rise of a modern mystery franchise
The first Knives Out film, released in 2019, became a breakout hit, earning more than USD 311 million on a USD 40 million budget. Netflix later acquired the exclusive rights to the next two films for over USD 400 million, bringing both Glass Onion (2022) and Wake Up Dead Man to the platform.
With the two-film deal now complete, the franchise’s future distributor remains open should a fourth film take shape.
