Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc is one of “most iconic” performances of our time, argue Wake Up Dead Man cast

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After playing James Bond so successfully for five films and fifteen years, it’s surprising to many movie fans that there’s even a discussion about which of his roles is most memorable.

With the release of the third film in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series, Daniel Craig—known for playing James Bond—has created another memorable character: Benoit Blanc, a clever detective with a Southern charm.

The new detective thriller, Wake Up Dead Man, is being released in select UK cinemas today, with a wider release on Netflix next month. The story follows a compelling new case set in a small, close-knit Catholic community in upstate New York.

The list of possible actors for the role is full of famous names – this time including Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, and Jeremy Renner. Everyone involved seemed to have a lot of fun watching Daniel Craig transform into his character for the third time.

Kerry Washington, known for her role as a lawyer in the film, described seeing a truly unforgettable performance. She explained that the artist embodies his character so completely, creating a world of his own, and she felt lucky to witness it firsthand.

She explained that Craig was the most dedicated member of the cast, possibly alongside O’Connor, and consistently arrived on set better prepared than anyone else.

She went on to say that he was the most gracious, kind, and genuinely good person she’d ever met. He was a truly generous and kind leader, and that created a work environment where everyone felt motivated to give their all and really thrive. It made me want to be better, too.

We were confident we had a team capable of winning a championship, and we were determined to succeed. Having someone like Daniel leading the creative process and serving as our captain made the whole experience enjoyable.

Cailee Spaeny, who stars alongside Joaquin Phoenix in Priscilla and as Romulus in Alien: Romulus, joked that it was surprisingly strange to see Joaquin Phoenix switch so quickly from playing the quirky detective Benoit Blanc to instantly becoming Daniel Craig again.

She remembered a specific moment during the service when he delivered an amazing monologue. It felt so much like watching a performance in a play, she said.

Some of the actors had worked with director Rian Johnson before. For Andrew Scott, who plays a troubled author in the film, this project was a chance to collaborate with Johnson again, as they’d previously worked together on the 2015 James Bond movie Spectre.

You know, working with this particular actor was just amazing. He’s incredibly talented, and in a movie with a lot of strong personalities, he really held everything together. What struck me most was the atmosphere he and the director, Rian Johnson, created on set. It can be pretty nerve-wracking walking onto a new project with so many impressive people, but they made everyone feel so comfortable and collaborative.

Daryl McCormack, the actor who portrays a politician who falls into online conspiracy theories, shared Scott’s viewpoint.

What I admire most about Daniel is his genuine humility, both as a person and as an actor. He and the team have created a remarkably welcoming atmosphere.

That approach really helps create a comfortable and collaborative environment for actors, letting them feel involved and authentic. And seeing him bring such a famous character to life firsthand is truly special.

Reviews are consistently positive, and we gave it a 4-star rating, believing it might be the strongest installment yet. Both Johnson and Craig have indicated they’re open to developing more mysteries for Blanc to investigate.

Only two more to go until he equals his output as 007…

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2025-11-28 15:10