Rian Johnson has revealed that the upcoming film Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will embrace a traditional Agatha Christie-style structure more closely than earlier entries in the franchise. Starring Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc, the movie features a strong ensemble cast, including Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner, Cailee Spaeny, Andrew Scott, Josh O’Connor, Thomas Haden Church, and Daryl McCormack. This project is part of the broader Knives Out franchise and is scheduled for release in late 2025.
Johnson shared these insights during Deadline’s Contenders London event, highlighting a shift toward a familiar narrative approach within the mystery genre that emphasizes suspense and character revelation.
Closer Alignment with Agatha Christie’s Storytelling
Johnson described the film’s structure as
“almost like a more traditional murder mystery”
similar to how most Agatha Christie novels unfold. In his words,
“The reality of this movie, it has almost like a more traditional murder mystery structure. This is how most Agatha Christie books work, where in the first act you meet all the suspects, you meet the protagonist, who’s not the detective. Then the murder happens, and the detective shows up.”
This approach marks a clear change from the more inventive narrative styles of the earlier films, Knives Out and Glass Onion. By following a classic whodunit format, the movie promises a carefully paced unraveling of motives and secrets.
Knives Out Franchise Success and Evolution
The first film launched the franchise in 2019 and quickly became a major hit, grossing $310 million worldwide and earning Johnson an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. After Lionsgate’s success, Netflix acquired the rights to produce two sequels. The second installment, Glass Onion, debuted in 2022 to critical acclaim, while the third installment, Wake Up Dead Man, is slated for release in November 2025 in select theaters, followed by a December streaming release on Netflix.
Each film in the series has focused on different themes: the original examined the secrets within the Thrombey family, and Glass Onion dissected the egos and lies surrounding a tech billionaire’s murder mystery game on a Greek island. Both films earned strong critical praise, holding 97% and 92% scores on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively.
Plot and Cast Highlights of Wake Up Dead Man
In Wake Up Dead Man, Benoit Blanc investigates a suspicious death of a priest during Mass in a small, rural parish rife with tension and superstition. Partnering with a guilt-ridden young priest named Reverend Jud Duplenticy, portrayed by Josh O’Connor, Blanc navigates a community filled with dubious characters where what appears to be a miracle might hide sinister truths.
The cast includes several notable actors such as Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner, Cailee Spaeny, Andrew Scott, Thomas Haden Church, and Daryl McCormack, supporting the complex web of suspects and community members caught in the mystery.
What the New Film Means for the Franchise
Through this third installment, Rian Johnson steers the Knives Out universe back toward the roots of classic murder mysteries, channeling Agatha Christie’s hallmark techniques of gradual suspense and moral ambiguity. This move shifts away from the more satirical tone of Glass Onion, focusing instead on a tighter narrative driven by characters and their hidden agendas.
The film’s return to a three-act structure will allow audiences to experience the full spectrum of intrigue, from introductions to revelations, before Benoit Blanc makes his critical entrance. The blend of humor, tension, and layered storytelling rooted in Christie’s legacy suggests a compelling evolution that may deepen the franchise’s appeal to mystery fans.
With its theatrical and streaming debut planned for the end of 2025, Wake Up Dead Man stands as one of Netflix’s most anticipated film events, promising to deliver the classic detective story atmosphere that has defined Agatha Christie’s enduring popularity and influence on the genre.
