Summary
Knives Out 3must feature the humor and charm of the previous two movies, butWake Up Dead Manalso needs to kill the franchise’s greatest casting trick— especially if it hopes to make way for future sequels.Knives Outtook the world by storm back in 2019, with Rian Johnson’s whodunit rapidly gaining steam. Its popularity is largely due to its fun premise, stellar performances, and shocking ending. AndKnives Out 2,titledGlass Onion, succeeds at replicating everything that makes the original great. It’s no wonder Netflix was so eager to snatch upthe rights toKnives Out’s sequels.
As of this writing, Netflix has only confirmedKnives Out 2and3— the first of which debuted in 2022.Knives Out 3,titledWake Up Dead Man, will premiere on the streamer in 2025, likely throwing Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc into another perplexing mystery. Although Blanc is charming enough to carry multiple sequels,Knives Out 3really needs to break one casting trend that benefits the first few installmentsin the series. If the creators plan on making more sequels, they can’t continue this tradition much longer.
Knives Out 3 Dream Casting: 10 Actors We’d Love To See
These experienced and rising stars would be perfect additions as suspects in Benoit Blanc’s murder investigation in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out 3.
Knives Out 3 Needs To Start Bringing Back More Familiar Characters
Benoit Blanc Can’t Be The Only Familiar Face In Future Sequels
The first twoKnives Outmovies benefit from entirely different casts, andKnives Out 3is poised to continue this franchise trend. Although Benoit Blanc appears in everyKnives Outmovie,there aren’t recurring characters inGlass Onion— and there’s been no word of any appearing inWake Up Dead Man.This casting trick makes the series feel like an anthology, and it is a fun element of the first few installments. However, one has to wonder ifKnives Outcan keep this going beyondWake Up Dead Man.If more sequels are greenlit, it makes sense to feature familiar faces.
Unfortunately,Knives Outmakes no efforts to bring back familiar characters — but for the sake of future sequels,Knives Out 3should.
After the firstKnives Outfilm, viewers were certain that Ana de Armas' Marta would become Blanc’s co-detective, but this was quickly debunked byGlass Onion.Janelle Monáe’s Helen Brand also makes a compelling partner for Blanc in the second movie, butthe actor hasn’t been announced forWake Up Dead Man’s cast.And other characters, like Hugh Grant’s Phillip and LaKeith Stanfield’s LieutenantElliott, probably should show up again in Blanc’s everyday life. Unfortunately,Knives Outmakes no efforts to bring back familiar characters — but for the sake of future sequels,Knives Out 3should.
All Great Detectives Need A Team (& So Does Benoit Blanc)
Even Sherlock & Batman Have People Helping Them
Having recurring characters inKnives Out 3and future sequels will give viewers more people to root for, but it will also benefit Benoit Blanc.All good detectives and heroes have teams, and it’s somewhat unbelievable that Blanc solves all these cases by himself. Sherlock Holmes has Watson, Mrs. Hudson, and Lestrade, and Batman receives help from characters like Alfred and Lucius Fox. It makes sense for Blanc to have a team in theKnives Outfranchise, especially if he continues solving cases beyondWake Up Dead Man.
A team will also put less pressure on Blanc— and thus, Craig — to keep viewers invested in the franchise.New characters open the door for new subplots and relationships, and while those aren’t necessities for a franchise likeKnives Out,they would help keep it fresh. They’d also allow viewers to see new sides of Blanc, making the series' protagonist even more intriguing in the process.
Fleshing Out Knives Out’s Recurring Cast Means Fleshing Out Benoit Blanc
Viewers Will Learn More About The Investigator With Recurring Characters Around
As Blanc is the focal point of theKnives Outfranchise, he still needs to be one of the most interesting people on-screen. Fortunately, bringing back familiar characters won’t just flesh out the world around him; it will also allow viewers to explore the investigator in more depth.The first twoKnives Outmovies only show Blanc in his element: solving his cases.Glass Onionbriefly shows him at home, but all this reveals is that he has a husband. It doesn’t delve into his personal life nearly as much as him interacting with Phillip in a sequel would.
Fortunately, bringing back familiar characters won’t just flesh out the world around him further; it will also allow viewers to explore the investigator in more depth.
Likewise, showing if Blanc keeps in touch with anyone from former cases would reveal a lot about his character.Depicting his ongoing relationships on-screen would show new sides of Craig’s character, making him a more well-rounded and intriguing lead overall. This would benefitKnives Out 3,but it will be especially important if the whodunit franchise continues with more movies afterWake Up Dead Man.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Cast
World-renowned detective Benoit Blanc returns in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The film will follow a new cast surrounding the detective as he attempts to solve another strange case.
