Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is now streaming on Netflix, continuing the detective work of Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc. Directed by Rian Johnson, the film also stars Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Thomas Haden Church, and Jeffrey Wright, among others.
Johnson’s anthology film series kicked off with Knives Out in 2019, followed by Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery in 2022 and now Wake Up Dead Man in 2025. Though some purport that the series has diminishing returns, Johnson has addressed the possibility of continuing the Knives Out franchise, going so far as to throw out his ideal next cast member.
“There are so many great actors I’d like to work with,” Johnson told IndieWire. “But, yes, if you’re reading this, Meryl Streep, I feel like you’d slot into a murder mystery very well.”
Despite his enthusiasm for the possibility of Streep joining a Knives Out project, he was clear that “there is nobody who is like the white whale.” Rather, these films have a rigorous casting process, and it’s not always “pick of the litter.”
“The reality is it’s a casting process, and you’re going after movie stars who have busy schedules, and you get a yes or no,” Johnson said. “But at the end of the day, you make the movie, and you can’t imagine anyone else in the part.” The director did clarify that there is one major nonnegotiable cast member—Daniel Craig.
“For me, personally, these movies are working with Daniel,” Johnson continued. “It’s a partnership. And the instant either one of us feels even slightly like not doing it, we’ll stop doing it.” Interestingly, he also clarified that his contract to direct Knives Out films for Netflix only included two productions, meaning that after Glass Onion and Wake Up Dead Man, he is not currently under contract for further sequels.
Nonetheless, as for what fans can expect moving forward, the director kept his cards close to his chest, stating: “The thing is, it really is true that if you’re a fan of the whodunnit genre, you’re aware of how broad a spectrum the mystery movie can be.” Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is now available to stream on Netflix.