Wake Up Dead Man cast reveal their favourite detectives and whether they’d make good murderers

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Daniel Craig jokingly mentioned wanting to finish his work in Narnia before Christmas. But we were actually there to discuss his role as Benoit Blanc – the quirky and eccentric detective from the American South – in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out mysteries on Netflix.

The upcoming movie, Wake Up Dead Man, takes place near a striking neo-Gothic church in upstate New York. Detective Benoit teams up with Father Jud Duplenticy, played by Josh O’Connor, a local Catholic priest, to investigate a seemingly unsolvable crime.

Craig is already focused on his next project. He’s currently filming ‘The Magician’s Nephew,’ Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the CS Lewis novel, where he plays Uncle Andrew. This role is quite different from James Bond – just as different as the eccentric gay author he portrayed in Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Queer’ last year (inspired by William Burroughs). It’s also a departure from Blanc, the clever and central character he played in Rian Johnson’s ‘Knives Out’ trilogy.

At 57, Craig feels he’s broken free from feeling constrained by expectations. He’s now more open to opportunities he might have previously hesitated to take. While he was famous for playing James Bond, he used to feel awkward switching between that role and others. Now, he’s working more intensely than ever, but also finding it more enjoyable, allowing him to take on diverse and compelling projects.

The latest James Bond film, No Time to Die, came out in 2021. Reflecting on his long career, Bond admits it hasn’t always been fulfilling. While he enjoys his work, he acknowledges it’s a complicated and demanding job that has often kept him separated from his family, which has been difficult.

Daniel Craig is married to Rachel Weisz, and they have a daughter named Grace, who was born in 2018. He also has a daughter, Ella Loudon, age 33, from a previous marriage to Fiona Loudon. Craig and his family have homes in both north London and New York.

Craig says he loves watching ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ with his children – it brings him a lot of happiness. He hopes to spend Christmas with them, not necessarily for religious reasons, but as a chance for a family gathering. He describes Christmas as a uniquely English tradition, similar to the American Thanksgiving, where the focus is on appreciating family and being grateful for their presence.

It’s ironic that Daniel Craig, after spending fifteen years and five films defining himself as James Bond – starting with Casino Royale in 2006 – now finds himself at the heart of another popular series, Knives Out. His new character walks a fine line between believable and over-the-top. “That’s where the enjoyment comes from,” Craig explains. “It’s all about finding that balance.”

Playing Benoit Blanc isn’t simple, and Daniel Craig still puts in a lot of effort to get the character right. He doesn’t just show up on set knowing exactly how to portray him; it takes work and refinement. He really focuses on the role and keeps developing his performance.

I’ve been so impressed with how dedicated Craig has been to learning detective work, I started to wonder if he really feels confident now. I mean, if something terrible happened to me – if I were attacked or poisoned, for instance – do you think he’d actually be able to solve the case? He immediately shut that down, laughing and comparing it to being asked if playing James Bond made him a real spy. He insists it just wouldn’t work that way, and honestly, he doesn’t think he’d be very good in a real investigation – you really need to be naturally clever for that kind of thing.

What I find appealing about Benoit is his non-confrontational approach. He prefers to win people over with kindness and often uses compliments to get what he needs – it’s a clever and charming tactic.

O’Connor, Craig’s co-star, shared with RT that he was surprised by how kind, unsure of himself, and funny Craig was to work with, as he’d always pictured Craig as the stoic Bond. When asked if he identifies with that description, Craig responded, “All actors are insecure, really. We might seem confident, but it’s just a facade – we’re paddling like crazy underneath the surface. I’m just figuring things out as I go.”

  • Read our guide to the best Christmas TV for 2025

Andrew Scott plays Lee Ross

Could you get away with the perfect murder?

I don’t think I’d be capable of murder, even if I’m the type of person who might. I just can’t stand the sight of blood. I have my flaws, but I’m pretty sure I’ll live my life without ever having to kill anyone, and that’s how things are shaping up.

I’m actually a big fan of Hercule Poirot. The movie Evil Under the Sun, with Peter Ustinov playing Poirot, really stuck with me – it was from the 1980s. I remember being amazed watching it, with Diana Rigg and Maggie Smith also in the cast. I’d never seen anything quite like it before.

Glenn Close plays Martha Delacroix

Do you have a favourite detective?

I’ve always been a big fan of Agatha Christie, especially her book Crooked House. I even visited the location where it’s set back in 2017. It’s interesting that it hadn’t been adapted for film before, likely because the ending is quite unsettling. I also really enjoyed Prime Suspect – Helen Mirren was fantastic in it.

Do you believe in good and evil?

Glenn believes humans are a complex species and that evil isn’t something most people are born with. While he thinks a small number of people might be inherently evil due to brain differences, he largely attributes it to upbringing and how someone is raised.

Josh O’Connor plays Father Jud Duplenticy

Could you imagine yourself planning the perfect murder?

I really can’t. I get way too anxious. Even when I try to make plans, like going to dinner with someone, I usually back out. I honestly don’t think I’d ever be able to actually go through with it.

What about solving a murder, Josh?

Honestly, I don’t think I’d be any good at solving crimes. It seems like you need to be super organized and really focused, and that’s just not me! I question everything – people, situations, everything! I always end up saying, “I don’t know!” And I think a detective needs to be much more certain of things than I am.

It’s a weird combination, but I think having low self-esteem and a large ego actually works well for an actor. Most of us struggle with feeling insecure, which is why positive feedback is so important. At the same time, we need to be recognized and admired – we have a strong desire to be seen. It’s a strange mix of needing reassurance and wanting validation.

Who was your favourite detective growing up?

I really enjoyed watching Midsomer Murders with my family on ITV every Sunday afternoon. It was a tradition – we’d all try to guess who the killer was, and we had a great time doing it.

Mila Kunis plays police chief Geraldine Scott

Did you grow up watching murder mysteries?

I was raised in Russia, and even as a young child, around seven or eight years old, I was familiar with Sherlock Holmes. When I came to the United States, I developed a strong interest in murder mysteries, and ‘Clue’ remains one of my all-time favorite films.

Would you make a good murderer?

Since you play a suspect in the film, do you think you’d be suited to be a detective in the real world?

I think I’d be a good investigator! I’m comfortable asking questions and I notice a lot of details. My weakness, though, is recognizing faces – I wouldn’t be very helpful with identifying someone in a lineup.

Authors

Michael Hodges

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2025-12-11 20:38