'Knives Out 3: Wake Up Dead Man': All About the Star-Studded Netflix Film (2024)

Benoit Blanc has even more mysteries to solve.

Following the release of Knives Out and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, a third film for the murder mystery franchise is currently in the works.

The upcoming sequel was first announced in March 2021, when Netflix bought the rights to the Knives Out franchise in a reported $400 million deal that included a second and third film.

Filming for the movie wrapped in August 2024, and several details have already been teased by star Daniel Craig and Rian Johnson, the writer and director of the first two films. Fans also believe that the second film offers a major clue about the plot of the third film.

On May 24, Netflix revealed the third installment is officially titled Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Plus, the streamer announced when fans can expect its release.

From the returning cast to the potential release date, here's everything to know about Knives Out 3.

Who is in the Knives Out 3 cast?

Craig is slated to reprise his role as detective Benoit Blanc in the upcoming film. Seeing as Johnson has described the film trilogy as an anthology, it's unlikely that any other cast members from Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery will return.

In May 2024, several new cast members were announced, including Fleabag actor Andrew Scott, Challengers actor Josh O'Connor and Priscilla actress Cailee Spaeny.

Glenn Close is among those joining the cast of Wake Up Dead Man, and she called filming the movie "truly one of the best experiences of my life" when talking to PEOPLE in August 2024.

“I'm filming in London with Rian Johnson,” she said. “He's such a fine human being. He's kind, he's brilliant. He has a great laugh!”

She went on to praise Johnson for creating a "cast from heaven."

“This coming two weeks, we have scenes where all of us are in the same room, and I just can't wait to see what he does and what he does and what she does. It's so much fun," she said.

What will Knives Out 3 be about?

An official plot for Knives Out 3 hasn't been announced yet, though some fans believe the second film includes an Easter egg about the storyline for the upcoming movie.

In one of the early scenes from the film, when everyone is surprised to see Benoit Blanc at the dock, Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn) asks, "Did you solve the murder of — oh — whatshername — the ballet dancer thing, that's you?" Fans believe this is a hint that the third film could actually be a prequel about one of Benoit Blanc's earlier cases.

In a clip shared by Netflix announcing the official title, a voiceover states that this will be Blanc’s “most dangerous case yet.”

Who is directing Knives Out 3?

Johnson, who directed both Knives Out and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, will return to direct the third film. He will also pen the script for the upcoming movie.

When will Knives Out 3 begin filming?

As casting announcements started rolling in in May 2024, Variety reported that production was expected to begin very "soon."

As Johnson revealed on X (formerly Twitter), filming began on June 10 and wrapped on Aug. 17.

"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," he wrote.

When will Knives Out 3 be released?

In an interview with Deadline published in November 2022, Johnson revealed that he is still in the early process of planning the third film, meaning that a release date is still far away.

"[It's] the idea of figuring out how it can be completely different from this one as well as the first one," he said, noting that he will likely start penning the script in early 2023.

"I've got a Moleskine notebook that I carry everywhere and I'm constantly jotting stuff down in it. The first 80 percent of the process, for me, is scribbling in notebooks and structuring it all out. I'm trying to get ahead," he continued. "Even when I'm doing all the publicity for this film, I'm trying to start building up a structure, an idea, so that after New Year, when it's time to actually get to work, I'm hopefully not just staring at that horrible blank page. But you always are, I guess."

On May 24, Netflix revealed that Knives Out 3 will begin streaming in 2025.

Will there be a Knives Out 4?

While Netflix hasn't greenlit a fourth film, Johnson is on board to make more movies if the script is right. "If each one of these can really be what Agatha Christie did, if it can be not just in a totally new location and a new cast, but also trying something exciting, I'll keep doing it as long as Daniel [Craig] and I are having a good time. I'll keep making these as long as they let me," he told Variety.

Craig echoed those same thoughts while speaking with Deadline, adding, "If people are interested, then we'll make them. But if there ever came a point where either Rian and I thought we were just churning them out, I think we would back away. I mean, I just don't think that's what either of us want to do in life. Unless people are getting genuine fun out of them, forget it."