Writer/director Rian Johnson’s third installment of the “Knives Out” trilogy, starring Daniel Craig as the sly and disarming Southern detective Benoit Blanc, is officially heading to the film festival circuit. As we’ve learned today that “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” will be opening the 69th BFI London Film Festival.
The British festival shared that announcement with us this morning as the event takes place from October 8 to 19, months before its December 12 streaming debut on Netflix. “Wake Up Dead Man” will have its international premiere during the Opening Night Gala, located at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall.
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” the second installment, previously closed the 66th Festival edition back in 2022.
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We’re still waiting on major plot and character details of the film, but that’ll come in time, as Johnson has been very protective of keeping these films secret for as long as possible.
Another big angle for these films is the high-profile supporting cast assembled around Craig, as we’ll see actors such as Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church playing all sorts of essentitric characters as Blanc tries to solve the latest mystery.
A brief logline as we wait for details from Netflix:
Daniel Craig returns in his role of famed private detective Benoit Blanc for his most dangerous case yet. This time around will see Blanc unravelling a brand-new murder mystery in an as-yet-undisclosed setting, surrounded by a colourful new cast of suspects.
The next big step will be the incoming trailer for “Wake Up Dead Man,” and we’re curious if Johnson is going to secure a short theatrical window for the movie. Some filmmakers have been critical of the streaming service rebuffing requests to have their movies briefly released in traditional theatrical locations to give audiences a chance to see Netflix originals on the big screen before being locked on the app.
Having the pic debut at an international film festival is, perhaps, a good sign that we might be able to see it in theaters. However, this is just us manifesting that potential move.
