Trailer Drops for Rian Johnson’s ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ — Benoit Blanc Faces a Priest Found Dead in a Sealed Room After TIFF Raves
Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out film, Wake Up Dead Man, now has a trailer and it arrives after strong early reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival. The clip gives a first look at the mysterious death that drives the story, the small town congregation around the crime, and the detectives who’ll try to solve it.
- Trailer released online, offering a first look at the case.
- The film premiered to rave reviews at TIFF; see a BBC review for one reaction.
- Plot hook: a priest dies alone in a sealed room after a sermon.
- Cast includes Daniel Craig, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Josh O’Connor, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, and Andrew Scott.
- Release plan: limited theatrical on Nov. 26, then on Netflix on Dec. 12.
Trailer and first look
The official trailer shows Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, played by Josh Brolin, delivering a fiery sermon and then walking into a sealed concrete room in his church. Thirty seconds later he is found dead, which sets the investigation in motion.
Who’s involved
Director and writer Rian Johnson returns to the franchise with Wake Up Dead Man. Daniel Craig reprises his role as detective Benoit Blanc. He’s joined by:
- Josh Brolin as Monsignor Jefferson Wicks
- Glenn Close as Martha Delacroix
- Mila Kunis as police chief Geraldine Scott
- Josh O’Connor as Jud Duplenticy, the assistant priest
- Jeremy Renner as the town doctor
- Kerry Washington as a lawyer
- Andrew Scott as a best-selling author
Case setup
The trailer frames the death as sudden and mysterious. Some members of the congregation, including Martha Delacroix, view it as “an unsolvable holy mystery”, while Benoit Blanc treats it as a puzzle to be solved. The film is described in promotions as “his most dangerous case yet” and the “darkest chapter” in the Knives Out series.
Release and early reception
The film had an early run at the Toronto International Film Festival and picked up positive notices there. For one example, read the BBC’s review of the TIFF screening:
rave reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival
Distribution plans list a limited theatrical release on Nov. 26, followed by a Netflix release on Dec. 12.
