Daniel Craig’s Knives Out 3 ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ to Open London Film Festival 2025

Cor blimey, Benoit Blanc fans – our favourite Southern sleuth is back! The BFI London Film Festival just dropped an absolute bombshell: Wake Up Dead Man, the third installment in Rian Johnson’s wickedly clever Knives Out series, will kick off 2025’s cinematic celebration. And trust me, as someone who queued for six hours to catch Glass Onion at last year’s festival, this is properly exciting news.

A Fresh Take on Murder Most Foul

If you thought Glass Onion was a departure from the original Knives Out, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Director Rian Johnson’s been shouting from the rooftops about taking this third mystery in a “completely new direction tonally and thematically.” Having watched Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc evolve from country house conspiracies to Mediterranean mayhem, I’m properly buzzing to see where this new chapter leads.

Star-Studded Cast That’ll Make Your Head Spin

The Crown’s Josh O’Connor (and doesn’t he keep landing these plum roles?) leads a proper powerhouse ensemble alongside Hollywood legend Glenn Close, Avengers alumni Josh Brolin, and the eternally brilliant Mila Kunis. It’s like the casting director’s won the lottery and gone on a massive talent shopping spree.

London Film Festival’s Coup

Landing Wake Up Dead Man as the opening film is a massive win for the LFF. Festival director Sarah Mills tells me it’s “a testament to British cinema’s pulling power” and honestly, where better to premiere a murder mystery than in Agatha Christie’s homeland? The festival’s previous opening night films have included some proper belters, but this might just take the biscuit.

FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered

When exactly is Wake Up Dead Man premiering?

The London Film Festival kicks off on October 8th, 2025, with Wake Up Dead Man’s gala screening at the Royal Festival Hall. Public tickets will go on sale in September – set your alarms, they’ll sell faster than hot cakes.

How different will this be from previous Knives Out films?

While the exact plot’s under wraps tighter than a drum, Johnson’s comments suggest a darker tone. The title “Wake Up Dead Man” certainly hints at something grittier than the previous outings.

Will this be Daniel Craig’s last outing as Benoit Blanc?

No official word yet, but Craig’s been quoted saying he’ll “play Blanc as long as Rian keeps writing them.” And given the series’ success, Netflix would be mad to let this franchise go.

The Bottom Line

Mark my words, Wake Up Dead Man is shaping up to be the must-see event of LFF 2025. Whether you’re a die-hard Knives Out fan or just fancy seeing Daniel Craig doing that gloriously ridiculous accent again, this is one premiere you won’t want to miss. Fancy a flutter? I’d bet my last pound this’ll be the festival’s hottest ticket.

Share your theories about the new mystery in the comments below – and if anyone spots Daniel Craig practicing his Southern drawl around London, give us a shout!