‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’: Daniel Craig says working with this big cast is like ‘herding cats’
Rian Johnson’s Knives Out franchise has a significant legacy at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), with each previous film in the series premiering at the event. This year, that meant Toronto audiences got to be the first to watch Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, as Johnson called the festival his “favourite place in the world,” and now the rest of the world can watch the film in select theatres Nov. 26, followed by a Netflix release Dec. 12.
All the Knives Out movies have star-studded casts, this time including Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny and Daryl McCormack. But the murder-mystery story is darker this time around and has more twists, as Johnson takes us to church for the third film, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s storytelling.
In Wake Up Dead Man, we meet young priest Jud Duplenticy, played by the superb O’Connor, who’s sent to assist Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Brolin), but they have completely different approaches to their occupations. And when a mysterious and seemingly impossible murder takes place, renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Craig) arrives to solve the case, while local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) works alongside him.
Daniel Craig: ‘Putting this many stars into one film is literally the definition of herding cats’
It’s incredibly satisfying that Johnson has so clearly perfected the ingredients that are so beloved in the Knives Out franchise, while also effectively continuing to expand and evolve these stories. It doesn’t feel repetitive, and in the case of Wake Up Dead Man, it feels more emotionally grounded than Glass Onion, yet still has that humour that gets the audience chuckling.
But the impact of Wake Up Dead Man was also felt by its actors, who watched the film for the first time themselves in Toronto in September. Without spoiling the movie, we’ll say there is a scene with O’Connor and Close that was particularly impactful for Washington to watch.
“You just sit there and watch each other breathe life into these incredibly written characters,” she said.
We all know that having this many stars in a movie is never a guarantee of success, and Craig credited producer Ram Bergman for keeping everything together with so many actors to wrangle.
“Putting this many stars into one film is literally the definition of herding cats,” Craig said. “Logistically, it’s a nightmare, and this is the man that puts it together and leads us.”
Additionally, the entire cast of Wake Up Dead Man enthusiastically shared in Toronto that they had a great time making this film together, which isn’t always the case in every project.
“I got the phone call, it was like something out of heaven,” Close said. “I never thought of myself in one of the Knives Out movies, and I was so thrilled to be included, and then to hear about everyone else who was in it.”
“We just became this wonderful ensemble company, and we kept each other company through the whole shoot. … It’s one of the great gifts to have such an intense experience with people that you know will be your dear friends for the rest of your life.”
“So basically, what Glenn is saying is, it was an orgy,” Brolin added jokingly.
TORONTO, CANADA – SEPTEMBER 6 : (L-R) Mila Kunis, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington and Cailee Spaeny attend the premiere of ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on September 6, 2025. (Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Cast says it was an ‘absolute dream’ ensemble
Kunis shared that Johnson didn’t cast her in the movie; she “offered” herself up for the role, even before reading the script.
“This has been a dream, an absolute dream to work with everybody, and one of the greatest productions I’ve ever been on, and probably will ever be on,” Kunis said.
Washington added that Craig is a “phenomenal leader” for the rest of the cast and someone who upholds the franchise’s legacy.
“Anybody who signs up to do this movie is signing up to be in a company of actors,” she said. “We’re going to share the weight and we’re going to share the spotlight, and we’re going to share in this play together.”
“And so there was just so much generosity within the company and real, genuine love. And it’s so fun to watch it with you all, because it feels like you all had maybe a tiny bit as much fun watching it as we had making it.”
“Sometimes the process doesn’t necessarily equal the product. … Sometimes you have a great time doing something, and the product doesn’t match the fun time that we have,” Scott added.
(L-R) Andrew Scott, Jeremy Renner, Cailee Spaeny, Kerry Washington, Thomas Haden Church, Glenn Close and Daryl McCormack in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (John Wilson/Netflix)
It’s not a puzzle, it’s a movie
But how do you craft a mystery story that can stump an audience without getting too complicated? Johnson said it’s about remembering that this is a movie.
“Even though it seems like … a puzzle, it’s a movie, and it needs to work as a rollercoaster ride, not as a crossword puzzle,” he explained. “And I think if you’re focused on the audience trying to figure it out, then I think that’s going to get boring really quick.”
“It’s all about actual story, as opposed to bread crumbs and clues. … When I was growing up, I think the best mystery writers that I read were onto this, the notion that it’s kind of a myth that you should be able to solve a great Agatha Christie thing. I think she knows that. I think the reality is she’s keeping you hooked with a great story, and the ending needs to be satisfying. The way a great ending in any type of narrative is. … But if it can actually punch in the gut, then you really got something.”
