🔍Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) — Release, Cast, Review & Where to Watch Daniel Craig’s Next Big Case

🕵️‍♂️ Get ready to witness the sharpest mystery of the year! Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) marks the thrilling return of Detective Benoit Blanc — and this time, the clues lead straight into the heart of faith, guilt, and deception. With a haunting church, a dead body, and secrets buried beneath prayer, Rian Johnson delivers yet another cinematic puzzle that’s impossible to look away from.

Streaming soon on Netflix (December 12, 2025) after its theatrical release on November 26, this darkly humorous mystery stars Daniel Craig alongside a glittering ensemble — Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, and Cailee Spaeny.

🕵️‍♂️ The Story: Faith, Lies, and a Murder Dressed as a Miracle

When a mysterious death shakes a quiet church community in upstate New York, Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) steps into a world of faith, fervor, and forbidden secrets. The film follows Rev. Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), a young priest drawn into the orbit of the magnetic Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin).

Soon, a murder blurs the line between divine intervention and human deceit. Blanc joins forces with Police Chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) to peel back layers of mystery within a congregation led by powerful figures like Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close) and Vera Draven (Kerry Washington).

“This was dressed as a miracle… it’s just a murder. And I solve murders.” — Benoit Blanc

What unfolds next is a gripping gothic mystery set among gravestones, whispers, and sins that even the heavens can’t absolve.

🌟 Star-Studded Cast That Brings the Mystery Alive

The Wake Up Dead Man cast is a dream come true for mystery lovers:

• Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc

• Josh O’Connor as Rev. Jud Duplenticy

• Josh Brolin as Monsignor Jefferson Wicks

• Glenn Close as Martha Delacroix

• Mila Kunis as Police Chief Geraldine Scott

• Jeremy Renner as Dr. Nat Sharp

• Kerry Washington as Vera Draven

• Andrew Scott as Lee Ross

• Cailee Spaeny as Simone Vivane

• Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church, and Jeffrey Wright round out the stellar lineup.

This powerhouse ensemble delivers drama, suspense, and dry wit in true Knives Out fashion — blending humor with haunting intrigue.

🎥 Behind the Mystery: The Vision of Rian Johnson

Director Rian Johnson continues to reinvent the modern whodunit. After Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion (2022), his third entry in the series takes a darker, more spiritual turn.

Johnson calls it “Blanc’s most personal journey yet.” Shot in a gothic church with eerie cinematography by Steve Yedlin and a haunting score by Nathan Johnson, the film captures an atmosphere where every candle flicker hides a clue.

The tone is grounded, emotional, and deeply human — exploring guilt, faith, and the sins people hide behind belief.

“Themes of morality and fallible humanity feel right at home in a church,” Johnson says. “It felt like rich ground for a good story.”

🎭 What Makes It Different from Previous Knives Out Films

Unlike the flashy tech satire of Glass Onion, Wake Up Dead Man returns to classic mystery roots — more in line with Agatha Christie and Edgar Allan Poe. The church setting, graveyard visuals, and psychological storytelling add a gothic elegance to Johnson’s growing mystery universe.

Benoit Blanc remains the calm eye of the storm — but this time, he’s not just solving a case. He’s confronting what he believes in.

💬 Early Reviews: Critics Call It “Johnson’s Boldest Mystery Yet”

Following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (September 6, 2025), Wake Up Dead Man received glowing praise for its performances, atmosphere, and writing. Critics highlight Daniel Craig’s nuanced performance and Josh O’Connor’s emotional depth as standout elements.

Many describe it as “a mystery with a soul — where faith meets deception.”

📅 Release Date & Where to Watch

✨ Theatrical Release: November 26, 2025

📺 Streaming on Netflix: December 12, 2025

🌍 Runtime: Approx. 135 minutes

🎬 Genre: Mystery, Comedy, Thriller

Audiences worldwide will get to experience the mystery first in theaters, followed by its global Netflix debut just weeks later — perfect for a holiday season watch.

🔎 Final Verdict: The Most Sinister Knives Out Yet 🔔

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery isn’t just another murder case — it’s a meditation on guilt, faith, and the stories we tell to hide our sins. With sharp writing, magnetic performances, and Rian Johnson’s trademark twists, it’s set to become one of 2025’s biggest conversation starters.

As Benoit Blanc puts it best —

“Faith can blind a man faster than any lie.”

So, polish your magnifying glass and light a candle. The mystery begins November 26.