Academy Award-nominee Rian Johnson’s “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” will have its international premiere as the opening night selection for the 69th BFI London Film Festival, which runs from October 8th to 19th.
This marks a homecoming for Johnson’s whodunit series, following the original 2019 film’s Gala screening at the festival’s 63rd edition and the sequel, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” which closed the 66th in 2022. “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” is expected to have its world premiere, just like the first two films, at the Toronto International Film Festival. Both “Knives Out” (2019) and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022) were nominated for Academy Awards for Best Original and Adapted Screenplay, respectively.
“We’re honoured to be opening the BFI London Film Festival with ‘Wake Up Dead Man.’ London is the birthplace of the golden age of detective fiction, and it’s a thrill to be back!” Johnson said.
The third entry sees Daniel Craig reprising his role as the masterful private detective Benoit Blanc, who undertakes his most perilous and complex investigation yet set against a dark southern backdrop. Plot details are being kept under wraps at this time. Still, we know the star-studded ensemble features Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.
BFI London Film Festival Director Kristy Matheson noted that having UK talent like Craig and O’Connor makes “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” a perfect choice to launch this year’s festival. “Led by Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor, the film features incredible British and international talent on and off screen who bring a sense of play and verve to the screen, to craft a film that twists, turns, and will keep audiences guessing to the final frame. The third of the brilliant ‘Knives Out‘ films we have presented at the LFF, we are delighted to reunite for our special Opening Night,” she said.
“Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” will stream on Netflix starting December 12th, 2025, following a supposed limited theatrical release in November (dates unconfirmed at this time). The 69th BFI London Film Festival runs from October 8th to the 19th.
Are you excited for this announcement? Are you looking forward to “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery?” Will you be attending the BFI London Film Festival this year? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or on our X account.
