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All the Details on ‘Knives Out 3,’ Including the Cast, Director & More

Blanc is back

knives out universal
John Wilson/Netflix

Ready your pens and notepads, because the world's greatest detective is making a comeback.

Actor Daniel Craig, 56, won fans over as the charismatic detective Benoit Blanc in 2019's Knives Out, then returned to solve another case in the star-studded sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Now, the British actor is set to return for a third whodunnit that’s already underway—thanks to a $400 million deal with Netflix. And while the movie is still in the beginning stages, director Rian Johnson has already dropped a few clues about what fans can expect from Knives Out 3.

While chatting with Variety in 2023, Johnson discussed his love of older Agatha Christie adaptations and how they influenced his Knives Out films. He said, “They felt like the most entertaining thing in the world. And we make these movies as entertainment first and foremost. What was exciting about doing [Glass Onion] was the notion of trying to emulate Christie with a completely new story. I’m starting to work on the third movie now, and that’s also what’s got me creatively jazzed: I don’t have to replicate the last movie at all. The goal is to strike out in a completely new direction tonally and thematically.”

Keep reading for all the details on Knives Out 3, including the plot, cast, release date and more

knives out actor daniel craig
John Wilson/Netflix

1. When Was Knives Out 3 Confirmed?

In March 2021, Netflix acquired the rights to both Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Knives Out 3 in a $450 million deal, according to Collider. This was after the original film grossed an impressive $311 million and earned Johnson an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

2. What's the Official Title of Knives Out 3?

On May 24, Johnson made the big announcement on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “The next Benoit Blanc mystery, the follow-up to Knives Out and Glass Onion, is called Wake Up Dead Man.” The director also shared a 45-second teaser on Instagram and captioned it, "Benoit Blanc returns in his most dangerous case yet."

In it, a magnifying glass falls as Craig narrates. After briefly reflecting on cases from the previous installments, he ends on a cryptic note as a coffin appears, adding his biggest case is "yet to be revealed."

Fun fact: The title Wake Up Dead Man takes its inspiration from a 1997 U2 song from their album, Pop. Johnson told Netflix, “Pop is a very underrated album, and that song is very right for the title. But I’ve had ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ in my head for a long while, and I first heard the phrase in American folk music.”

knives out glass onion cast
John Wilson/Netflix

3. What Is Knives Out 3 About?

Per Netflix's Tudum, "Details about Blanc’s next case remain tightly buried—perhaps in the coffin prominently featured in the film’s brief teaser." So, the plot has yet to be revealed. But given how the second movie in the franchise was so different from the first, we already know part three will not be a continuation of Glass Onion.

Netflix offered a vague teaser of the plot and said in a statement, "This time around will see Blanc unraveling a brand-new murder mystery in an as-yet-undisclosed setting, surrounded by a colorful new cast of suspects."

knives out director rian johnson
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

4. Who Is Directing Knives Out 3

Johnson, who directed and wrote the first two films, will return to direct the third installment. 

In 2022, he discussed his plans to start working on Knives Out 3 and told Deadline, "We structured the [Netflix deal] so that if I wanted to do something else next, I could. And I think everybody assumed I’d have a couple other random ideas—unrelated projects—that I’ve been kicking around. But, honestly, over the past couple of months, the most exciting creative thing to me right now is that third movie."

Also, in October 2023, he gave a brief update and told The Wrap, “[Knives Out 3 is] coming along. I obviously couldn’t work during the strike, and now that it’s over, I’m diving in full force, and so it’s coming along. I’ve got the premise, I’ve got the setting, I’ve got what the movie is in my head. It’s just a matter of writing the damn thing.”

knives out janelle monae
John Wilson/Netflix

5. Who Stars in Knives Out 3

The second film, Glass Onion, featured an entirely new cast (aside from Craig), so it's no surprise we're seeing a similar setup for Knives Out 3. Craig will reprise his role as Blanc, and I suspect Hugh Grant, who played Blanc's partner, Phillip, will make a brief appearance. Here are the cast members who have been confirmed:

  • Daniel Craig
  • Josh O’Connor
  • Glenn Close
  • Josh Brolin
  • Mila Kunis
  • Jeremy Renner
  • Kerry Washington
  • Andrew Scott
  • Cailee Spaeny
  • Daryl McCormack
  • Thomas Haden Church

Their characters have yet to be revealed, but based on this lineup, this film is already shaping up to be a fascinating installment.

6. Has Production Begun on Knives Out 3?

It sure has. On June 10, the first day of production, Johnson confirmed filming is officially underway. He tweeted, "Aaaaand we’re off! Today is day one of shooting on the next Benoit Blanc mystery. Wake Up Dead Man—see you on the other side."

The director also shared a black-and-white shot of Craig in character, complete with a three-piece suit, a fedora and longer hair. Color me intrigued...

knives out daniel craig
John Wilson/Netflix

7. When Will Knives Out 3 Premiere on Netflix? 

As of now, there’s no confirmed premiere date, but Netflix did reveal Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery would drop sometime in 2025.

If you recall, filming for Glass Onion began in June 2021 and released on Netflix in December 2022—two months after it's theatrical release. So, if Wake Up Dead Man follows a similar timeline, I'd estimate the film's release will be in the winter of 2025 and potentially hit Netflix early in 2026.

knives out 3 actor daniel craig
John Wilson/Netflix

8. Will There Be a Knives Out 4?

A fourth movie hasn’t been confirmed, but it’s certainly possible (!!!). When asked if he was interested in expanding the series even further, Johnson told Variety, "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 and I are having a good time. I'll keep making these as long as they let me."

Cheers to Knives Out 3 (and beyond).



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