Cast of Wake Up Dead Man: Full List of Actors and Roles

There’s something irresistible about watching a cast of stars try to outsmart each other in a locked-room mystery, and with Wake Up Dead Man, the third Knives Out film, Rian Johnson has assembled an ensemble that includes Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, and Josh Brolin. Here’s a detailed look at who plays who, where it was filmed, and what early buzz suggests.

Release Year: 2025 ·
Director: Rian Johnson ·
Lead Actors: 8 (Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott) ·
Series: Knives Out mystery series ·
Streaming Platform: Netflix

Six facts about the film, one takeaway: the ensemble is deep, the release window is tight, and the mystery is already generating heat.

Who is in the cast of Wake Up Dead Man?

Who are the lead actors?

• Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc (IMDb (film database))
• Josh O’Connor as Father Jud Duplenticy (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
• Glenn Close as Martha Delacroix (IMDb (film database))
• Josh Brolin as Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (IMDb (film database))
• Mila Kunis as Chief Geraldine Scott (IMDb (film database))
• Jeremy Renner as Dr. Nat Sharp (IMDb (film database))
• Kerry Washington as Vera Draven, Esq. (IMDb (film database))
• Andrew Scott as Lee Ross (IMDb (film database))

What roles do they play?

The confirmed roles go beyond the headliners. Cailee Spaeny plays Simone Vivane, Daryl McCormack plays Cy Draven, and Thomas Haden Church plays Samson Holt. Jeffrey Wright appears as Bishop Langstrom, Annie Hamilton as Grace Wicks, and James Faulkner as Reverend Prentice Wicks (IMDb (film database)). Wikipedia also lists Bridget Everett, Noah Segan, Jamie Karitzis, and Kit Burden among the ensemble (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

Are there any surprise cameos?

The full extent of cameo appearances is not yet public. Neither the official trailer nor the TIFF Q&A disclosed surprise guests. Given Johnson’s track record of packing his mysteries with brief but memorable turns, it’s safe to expect a few unannounced faces on screen.

The pattern: each cast member brings a distinct presence to the mystery, building on the franchise’s tradition of star-studded intrigue.

Who is the Irish guy in Wake Up Dead Man?

Which actors are Irish?

Two Irish actors have joined the cast. Josh O’Connor and Andrew Scott both hail from Ireland. O’Connor is best known for playing Prince Charles in The Crown (Netflix) and for his role in Challengers. Scott gained fame as the “Hot Priest” in Fleabag (BBC) and as Moriarty in Sherlock (BBC). Their casting was reported by Entertainment.ie, which noted the film is “boasting two Irish actors” (Entertainment.ie (Irish entertainment news)).

What are their roles?

Josh O’Connor plays Father Jud Duplenticy, a young priest and former boxer – a role that allows him to lean into both physicality and moral ambiguity. Andrew Scott plays Lee Ross, a character whose exact nature remains under wraps. The pairing of two Irish actors in a story set largely in a church adds an intriguing layer of cultural texture.

The implication: Wake Up Dead Man is not just a star vehicle; it’s a casting choice that brings real heritage into the mystery.

Where did they film Wake Up Dead Man?

Was it filmed in a real church?

Yes – IMDb lists the filming location as Holy Innocents Church, High Beech, Epping Forest, Essex, England, UK (IMDb (film database)). That’s a real church used for the interior and exterior scenes. However, other sources in the research pack indicate filming also took place in Vancouver, Canada. The church is in England, while Vancouver was used for additional photography. Specific Vancouver locations have not been disclosed.

What Vancouver locations were used?

The production team has not released a detailed list of Vancouver sites. Given Netflix’s history of shooting in British Columbia – productions like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and The Cabin used Vancouver-area locations – it’s plausible that secondary sets and exteriors were built in or around the city. Fans hoping to visit specific spots will have to wait for a definitive location guide.

What this means: the visual palette of the film will likely blend authentic English church architecture with the rainy, moody atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest.

Is Wake Up Dead Man a good film?

What are critics saying?

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2025. Full critical scores, including Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, are not yet available because the wide release hasn’t occurred. However, the TIFF Q&A video suggests a positive reception from the festival audience (TIFF Q&A video (festival organization)).

What do audiences think on Reddit?

An early Reddit thread on r/movies described the film as “original, smart and passionately acted.” That’s a strong signal from a community known for its skepticism. But with only a handful of posts, it’s too early to call a consensus.

“Wake Up Dead Man is original, smart and passionately acted.”

– r/movies Reddit user

The trade-off: early buzz is promising, but the real test will come when the film lands on Netflix in December 2025 and millions of subscribers weigh in.

How much did Daniel Craig make for Wake Up Dead Man?

What is Daniel Craig’s contract with Netflix?

Exact salary figures for this specific film are not public. What is known: Daniel Craig signed a deal with Netflix for two Knives Out sequels reportedly worth over $100 million. That deal covers both Glass Onion (2022) and Wake Up Dead Man. The number has been widely reported by entertainment news outlets, though the exact per-film breakdown is undisclosed.

Why this matters: at a reported $100M+ for two films, Craig is earning a per-movie rate that puts him among the highest-paid actors in streaming history – a sign of how Netflix values the Knives Out franchise.

“Two Irish actors have joined the cast of Knives Out 3.”

– Entertainment.ie (Irish entertainment news)

“The film is the third and darkest chapter of Rian Johnson’s murder mystery series.”

– Netflix official trailer description

The consequence for fans: Wake Up Dead Man is shaping up to be a dense, actor-driven mystery with a strong Irish thread and a real church setting. For anyone who loves the Knives Out franchise, the cast alone is reason enough to mark December 12 on the calendar. For casual viewers: this might be the entry point that converts you into a Benoit Blanc loyalist.

For a detailed breakdown of every actor and their role, check out the full cast and character guide for Wake Up Dead Man.

Frequently asked questions