Wake Up Dead Man is the third installment in the Knives Out film series, written and directed by Rian Johnson, with Daniel Craig returning as the master detective Benoit Blanc.  This episode promises to be darker and more gothic than its predecessors, exploring religious overtones, morally complex characters, and what the makers call Blanc’s “most dangerous case yet.”

The mystery begins when a small town church is shaken by an impossible crime during Mass. Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, a charismatic priest, apparently dies under mysterious circumstances. The death is followed by even stranger events — including a sealed concrete box and a “locked‑door” scenario that seems to defy explanation.  Reverend Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) is implicated in some way, either as suspect, possible redeemer, or simply someone caught in an unfair light.

Benoit Blanc is called in to unravel the twisting threads of faith, secrecy, and betrayal. The supporting ensemble casts several characters who each seem to have something to hide: Geraldine Scott, local police chief; Vera Draven, a strict lawyer; Dr. Nat Sharp; Simone Vivane; and others. Leadership in the church, parish relationships, old secrets, and the community’s trust all become entangled as Blanc digs deeper.

As Blanc investigates, the film builds tension via atmospheric settings — gothic architecture, religious iconography, closed doors, locked spaces — all enhancing the sense that nothing is what it appears, and that some truths have been buried, or deliberately hidden.  Moral ambiguity is central: questions of faith and doubt, role of ritual, responsibility of clergy, the sway of power, and what defines a miracle or a crime.

The climax is expected to piece together the impossible crime: how death, confession, public persona, private sins, and faith collided. Blanc must navigate both literal or metaphorical locked‑doors and symbolic ones, revealing the real story behind Monsignor Wicks’ death and its impact on all around him. The story ends not only with the resolution of “who did it” but with a reflection on what justice and truth mean in a setting saturated with belief.

Wake Up Dead Man will be released in theaters (limited run) on November 26, 2025, and on Netflix globally starting December 12, 2025. It runs about 140 minutes.