Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery still hasn’t made its debut, but that hasn’t stopped the writer and director from planning the franchise’s future. The Knives Out franchise has been a proven crowd-pleaser since its 2019 debut, offering audiences clever mysteries solved through the unique mind of Daniel Craig’s detective Benoit Blanc. The third installment, Wake Up Dead Man, is promising to be the brilliant sleuth’s most dangerous case yet, seeing him investigating the “impossible murder” of a monsignor, and bringing the usual long list of suspects along for the ride.
While promoting Wake Up Dead Man, Johnson spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, providing fans with an exciting update on the possibility of a fourth Knives Out film. According to Johnson:
“Daniel and I are already starting to formulate … what could the next one be if we do another one?”
It seems as though the journey of Wake Up Dead Man has the director ready, stating, “Creatively, I feel energized after making this one.” Johnson’s words offer a promising future for the Knives Out franchise, as he added:
“I don’t know why I would stop doing it if we could keep making them.”
Wake Up Dead Man is slated for a limited theatrical release, playing for a short two weeks beginning on November 26. The movie will then debut on Netflix starting December 12, driving viewership for the streamer as families gather for the holiday season. This release model mirrors how Netflix released the prior Knives Out film, Glass Onion, in 2022, which proved successful for the streamer. However, many audiences felt left out, unable to see the movie in theaters.
What’s Next for ‘Knives Out’ after ‘Wake Up Dead Man’?
The biggest question hanging over the Knives Out franchise comes with the Netflix distribution deal, which has been fulfilled with the release of Wake Up Dead Man. Netflix and Rian Johnson signed a deal in 2021 for two sequels, under which the streamer would receive distribution rights. Therefore, if a fourth Knives Out film were to materialize, it is no longer a guaranteed Netflix release.
When Knives Out hit theaters, it was a box-office smash, grossing $312.8 million worldwide on a $40 million budget. Those impressive returns came from stellar reviews and strong word of mouth from moviegoers. Knives Out also benefited from a November release, capitalizing on the holiday season and proving to be perfect for families to watch together. The franchise has continued to impress critics, with Glass Onion receiving glowing praise and Wake Up Dead Man earning similarly high marks before release. It is particularly impressive, as each film in the series holds a Rotten Tomatoes score above 90%.
Netflix may be looking to ink another deal with Johnson for more sequels. However, Johnson and audiences may be looking for the franchise to return to theaters for longer than a scant two-week window. The box-office returns Knives Out saw in 2019 speak volumes, and theaters could use another movie that generates positive word of mouth and sells out showings. Wherever Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc lands following Wake Up Dead Man, it’s clear that Johnson is excited to keep writing mysteries for him to solve.
- Release Date
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November 26, 2025
- Runtime
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140 minutes
