A brand-new trailer for Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man has just landed, offering a fresh look at the third chapter in the Knives Out saga. After the sharply crafted Knives Out (2019) and the sun-soaked Glass Onion (2022), Johnson steers the franchise into more shadowed territory, leaning into a Gothic-tinged mystery with a more introspective edge.
This time, the story unfolds within the confines of an aging church, encircled by overgrown graveyards, immediately signalling a shift toward a duskier, more atmospheric tone. The footage suggests a tale preoccupied with questions of belief, guilt, and spiritual unease—elements that sit against a backdrop rich with both religious symbolism and moral tension.
At the centre of the narrative is Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), a troubled young priest wrestling with a profound crisis of faith. When a baffling murder disrupts his world, famed detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is summoned to unravel the truth.
Craig and O’Connor are joined by an impressive ensemble – including Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, and Jeremy Renner. Johnson has spoken highly of the cast’s dynamic on set, highlighting the lively creative interplay that shaped the production.
Wake Up Dead Man premiered globally at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6.
The film arrives in select theaters on November 26, before launching worldwide on Netflix on December 12.
