Rian Johnson’s ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Unveiled to Raucous Applause at TIFF 2025

TORONTO — The highly anticipated third installment in Rian Johnson’s acclaimed whodunit series, ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,’ made a spectacular premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this past Saturday night. The star-studded event at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre was undeniably one of the festival’s hottest tickets, marking Johnson’s third triumphant return to TIFF with his beloved franchise.

Director Rian Johnson expressed his deep affection for the festival, stating, “This is my favorite place to be in the world,” sentiments echoed from his previous two successful TIFF premieres. Early buzz suggests ‘Wake Up, Dead Man’ is Johnson’s darkest, most intricate, and most star-studded mystery yet. While retaining the signature wit and playful pop culture references, the film reportedly delves into more ambitious, existential themes.

Daniel Craig reprises his role as the iconic detective Benoit Blanc, investigating a murder case centered around a local church, where themes of truth, lies, and grace are intricately woven into the narrative. The impressive ensemble cast includes Josh O’Connor as a young priest, Josh Brolin as the Monsignor, and Glenn Close as a devout parishioner. Additional luminaries such as Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Daryl McCormack, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Thomas Haden Church, and Cailee Spaeny also feature.

Johnson described this installment as a return to the genre’s gothic roots, drawing inspiration from literary masters like Edgar Allan Poe, John Dickson Carr, and G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown mysteries. Cast members, including Jeremy Renner who called it “like winning the lottery” and Kerry Washington who likened it to an all-star team, shared their excitement about joining Johnson’s acclaimed universe.

Following its electrifying TIFF debut, ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ is slated for a limited two-week theatrical run beginning November 26, before it becomes available for streaming on Netflix on December 12.

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