Wake Up Dead Man cast reveal Knives Out film’s relevance to “scary times” we live in – and who has pitched a return for a sequel

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Daniel Craig describes his portrayal of detective Benoit Blanc in the Knives Out films as a blend of influences. He drew inspiration from classic performances like Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot and Albert Finney in Murder on the Orient Express, admiring both their skill and, in Finney’s case, the sheer boldness of the performance. Like most actors, he says, he ‘borrowed’ bits and pieces from those he admired to create his own character.

Benoit Blanc’s distinctive accent and refined demeanor, his skill at building suspense while revealing the culprit, his strong sense of justice, and even his impeccable style, all made their debut in Rian Johnson’s 2019 film Knives Out. The movie, which premiered on Netflix, cleverly updated the classic whodunit mysteries of Agatha Christie for a modern American audience.

The first film was a massive hit, revitalizing the mystery genre. However, some viewers felt the sequel, Glass Onion (2022), relied too much on elaborate set pieces and exaggerated acting – including, according to some, Daniel Craig’s performance.

He acknowledges some people thought his portrayal was excessive, but explains that was intentional. As RT spent the day with the cast before the release of ‘Wake Up Dead Man,’ he clarified that Benoit Blanc was meant to be a deliberately exaggerated character – a way to unsettle the villains in the film.

Wake Up Dead Man doesn’t suffer from any tonal issues. It’s a powerful return to classic form for the director, who wisely traded the bright, extravagant setting of Glass Onion for a moody, American-gothic atmosphere – with a forest in England doubling as upstate New York. The film also features a particularly strong performance alongside Daniel Craig’s work.

Josh O’Connor, 35, is quickly becoming a highly sought-after actor, though he was previously known in the UK for his roles as Larry in The Durrells and Prince Charles in The Crown. In this new role, he plays Father Jud Duplenticy, a young priest with a hidden past: before entering the priesthood, he was a boxer who accidentally killed an opponent.

Haunted by guilt, Duplenticy is sent to Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, a small-town church in Chimney Rock, as a form of punishment. There, he’s forced to work under the stern and conservative priest, Jefferson Wicks, portrayed by Josh Brolin as a traditionalist who fiercely criticizes modern society. In contrast, Father Jud offers compassion and faith to those struggling with their flaws.

I thought Glass Onion cleverly used the pandemic as a backdrop, but Rian Johnson’s new film, Wake Up Dead Man, feels like it’s tackling something even bigger – the deep divide we’re seeing in American politics and culture. It’s clear from talking to some of the American actors involved that Johnson really wanted to explore those contemporary tensions with this movie.

Mila Kunis, who plays police chief Geraldine Scott, says she finds herself holding back her opinions much more frequently these days. She explains that even simple questions, like someone asking about her favorite taco, can become surprisingly divisive. ‘If I say beef, the chicken fans get upset, and if I say chicken, the beef fans do,’ she said. ‘Everything feels political now, and that’s just the reality.’

Glenn Close, who portrays the character Martha Delacroix – a dedicated supporter of the main character Wicks – also expresses concern about the future of the United States. “I often think about where things are headed,” she explains. “It definitely feels like we’re living in unsettling times.”

Father Jud is challenging the way Wicks manages the parish, which feels more like his personal domain. The church boasts a talented congregation, including actor Jeremy Renner playing Doctor Nat Sharp, novelist Andrew Scott as Lee Ross, lawyer Kerry Washington as Vera Draven, and cellist Cailee Spaeny as Simone Vivane, who lives with a disability.

It’s no surprise that everyone is hiding something. And, as you can imagine, someone ends up murdered – their body discovered in a locked changing room near the altar. Completely stumped, the police chief, Scott, calls in detective Blanc, who excitedly identifies it as “a classic impossible crime.”

Johnson’s latest work focuses on the classic elements of detective fiction, heavily inspired by American author John Dickson Carr, known for his 1935 locked-room mystery, The Hollow Man – a book even featured in the film. True to the genre, the film offers a complete and satisfying resolution, helping to explain the renewed popularity of murder mysteries.

The classic detective novels of authors like Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers first became popular after the devastation of World War I and during the hardship of the Great Depression. Now, with society feeling so divided, we might be especially attracted to characters who can make sense of things. As author Simone O’Connor puts it, “There’s a real comfort in having everything neatly resolved at the end.” We don’t often experience that in real life, so we enjoy it in fiction.

While Johnson’s clever plot twists are enjoyable, the film truly shines because of its cast, especially Glenn Close’s powerful and dramatic performance as Delacroix. Her character is deeply affected by a painful childhood experience within the church, and Close portrays this with remarkable skill.

As a lifelong moviegoer, I’ve always been fascinated by how personal experiences shape a director’s vision. Chloë Zhao, for example, grew up in a really unusual environment – her family was deeply involved in a conservative movement called Moral Re-Armament. She’s said it felt almost like being raised in a cult, from the age of seven to twenty-two. And she believes, as I do, that experiences that intense, especially when you’re young, really stay with you and inform everything you do later in life.

Rian Johnson recently discussed how being raised in a devout evangelical Christian household influenced both his life and his film, Wake Up Dead Man, explaining that the movie’s origins lie in his personal background.

The film explores two contrasting beliefs – Wicks believes in Old Testament-style retribution, while Duplenticy embodies the love and forgiveness of the New Testament. You could even consider the director’s strong atheism a belief system in itself. According to Craig, the main character, Josh, sees a bit of himself in Duplenticy and feels compelled to guide him.

I totally get where O’Connor’s coming from when he talks about faith. It’s a big part of his life, and he grew up going to church every Sunday, even serving as an altar boy! Though, get this, he was actually removed from the role for smiling too much – pretty harsh, right? But what really connects him to Jud, he thinks, is the way he was raised. His parents were what he calls ‘socialist Catholics,’ and they really instilled in him a belief in hope, even when things are tough, and the importance of forgiveness and making amends.

Craig is usually the biggest attraction in these films, but in this one, his co-star, O’Connor, really shines and almost equals his performance. When asked about realizing his career was taking off, O’Connor seemed taken aback by his own success. He responded, “I just finished a movie with Joel Coen and also worked with Steven Spielberg this year – it’s unbelievable. So maybe this is it, actually, right now, being here with you.”

Despite receiving high praise from his coworkers, Josh remains humble. His colleague, Close, even compares his performance as Father Jud to that of a classic Hollywood actor. She says Josh possesses a special, heartwarming quality, much like Jimmy Stewart. Craig adds simply that Josh is exceptionally talented and deserves recognition.

Craig and O’Connor work differently, but their approaches balance each other out. Craig is very focused on physical training, while O’Connor’s approach is a bit more relaxed – this was noticeable even when they worked with the film’s trainer. According to O’Connor, they were at the gym every morning.

I went to the gym occasionally in the mornings, but Daniel was a regular – practically every day. I really wanted to make sure he physically looked like a boxer.

O’Connor shared a surprising story about a childhood encounter: when he was fifteen, an eleven-year-old boy demanded his skateboard at a skate park. When O’Connor refused, the boy punched him in the face, giving him a nosebleed. He admitted it was a humiliating experience, but it happened a long time ago.

O’Connor acknowledges Craig’s significant help with his involvement in Wake Up Dead Man. He describes Craig as a remarkably kind person who went above and beyond, ultimately recommending him for a role in Knives Out. O’Connor only recently learned that Craig was the one who brought his work to the attention of director Rian Johnson, and he feels this was a crucial step in his career.

Daniel is a truly talented actor. It’s easy to overlook, especially because of his role as Bond, but he has a remarkably varied and impressive career. He excels at all genres – tragedy, comedy, drama, and everything in between. He’s also a fantastic person to work with, always seeking feedback and questioning himself, constantly asking things like, ‘Do you think this is working?’ He’s incredibly humble and isn’t afraid to admit when he’s unsure.

Many people might assume Daniel Craig is as confident as James Bond, but that couldn’t be further from the truth, according to O’Connor. She explains that despite his on-screen persona, he’s actually quite insecure and charming – a really sweet and brilliant man to work with.

Actors consistently mention how much they enjoyed the collaborative atmosphere on set. Andrew Scott explained that the cast spent all day together, even during breaks, preferring to stay in the green room as a group rather than return to their individual trailers. He noted that with so many actors – nine in some scenes – it was rare to have that kind of close connection, and he described the group as fantastic.

Craig says everyone involved in the project is exceptionally talented. Working with actors like Andrew Scott and Glenn Close pushes you to perform at your best – you simply have to step up. When Glenn Close is present, it’s a clear signal that everyone needs to deliver their best work. You can’t be shy or reserved around her; you need to engage fully. She enjoys the process, but she’s also a very dedicated and serious performer.

He’s not wrong – when asked, Close describes this film to me as “Shakespearean”.

The movie follows a classic pattern: things start out organized, fall into chaos, and then eventually return to order – sometimes in a funny way, and sometimes with more serious consequences. I especially love how it ends; I think viewers will be genuinely surprised.

Stories about faith, death, love, and revenge often captivate us. Maybe that’s why we enjoy mystery novels – they let us think about life’s biggest questions while still being entertained. But Craig disagrees, pointing out these aren’t typical ‘whodunnits.’ He argues they’re better because, while they do have a resolution, it’s always unexpected, and that’s what makes them so clever.

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2025-11-28 20:21