Daniel Craig is urging Netflix to release the third “Knives Out” film in theaters.
Craig, who stars as detective Benoit Blanc in the Rian Johnson franchise, told Variety that he hopes the upcoming third installment “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” will get a theatrical release — and ideally for longer than just one week like what its predecessor had.
After the first “Knives Out” film was released by Lionsgate in 2019 and became a box office hit, Netflix made a deal with writer/director Johnson to produce two sequels for the platform. The first follow-up, 2022’s “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” made history as the widest release ever for Netflix. The film also was the first Netflix movie to screen in AMC and Regal locations after the streamer partnered with AMC Theaters, Regal Cinemas, and Cinemark for “Glass Onion” to open in 600 theaters.
“You know I do,” Craig said when asked if he thinks “Wake Up Dead Man” should screen in theaters for more than one week like “Glass Onion.”
Craig continued, “Hopefully, Netflix will push it out a bit, and people will get to see it. The people I speak to — the fans, I suppose — all they want to do is take their families and go see it at the cinemas. That’s all they want to do. Hopefully we can give them that experience.”
IndieWire reached out to Netflix for comment.
“Wake Up Dead Man” was announced in May 2024. The ensemble cast for the anthology film includes Josh O’Connor, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Glenn Close, Cailee Spaeny, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church, along with Craig. The film will be released in 2025.
“In the beginning, the knives came out. Then, behold, the glass was shattered. But my most dangerous case yet is about to be revealed,” Craig said in character as Blanc for the teaser.
Johnson teased of the film, “Aaaand that’s a wrap on Wake Up Dead Man. Went so fast! Best crew, incredible cast, this was a really special shoot and I cannot wait to put it together.”
