Benoit Blanc’s Reduced Role In ‘Knives Out 3’ Sets Up His Eventual Exit

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Be warned, this article contains spoilers for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery! With the release of Wake Up Dead Man, the Knives Out series is now complete as a trilogy. However, writer and director Rian Johnson has made an interesting shift in how he portrays Daniel Craig’s Detective Benoit Blanc. As the only character to appear in all three films, Craig’s detective is central to the whole story. But Wake Up Dead Man changes things up in a way that works well, though it could lead to significant changes in future installments.

The Knives Out movies have been popular with a wide range of viewers since the first one came out in 2019. These films offer clever, Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries that are both funny and suspenseful. A key part of the series’ success has been Daniel Craig’s portrayal of Benoit Blanc. However, after the upcoming Wake Up Dead Man, things might be different.

Benoit Blanc is a Secondary Character in ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’


Netflix

The movie Wake Up Dead Man immediately introduces audiences to Benoit Blanc. He appears very early on, in just the second shot of the film. Initially, it seems like he’s learning about the case from a distance, as he’s shown reading a letter, but the movie later reveals he’s actually at the center of the action. Despite this quick introduction, Blanc doesn’t reappear for almost the entire first act of the movie.

He doesn’t appear for nearly 40 minutes, and during that time, Josh O’Connor carries the story as Father Jud Duplenticy. When Benoit Blanc finally arrives, he doesn’t immediately dominate the scene. Instead, he and Jud function almost as co-leads, which is a surprisingly effective dynamic. O’Connor delivers a fantastic performance, creating a compelling character that fully engages the audience. Because of this, it’s easy to become absorbed in the new characters and their stories, almost making you forget that Blanc is still coming – and that’s a good thing.

Rian Johnson’s Benoit Blanc Change Highlights the ‘Knives Out’ Movie’s Approach to Storytelling


Netflix

While Daniel Craig has a smaller role in Wake Up Dead Man, it highlights a unique aspect of how Rian Johnson crafts the Knives Out films. Unlike most franchises, each Knives Out movie can be enjoyed on its own. You don’t need to have seen the previous films to understand or appreciate the story. This isn’t quite the same as an anthology series like Black Mirror, but Knives Out certainly flirts with that style of storytelling.

What really strikes me about Rian Johnson’s approach is that he’s focusing on compelling stories first, rather than relying on famous faces. He’s clearly a director who can get fantastic performances from anyone, and still maintain that unique Knives Out feel we all love. It’s amazing how he’s created such a distinct style – you can tell it’s one of his projects even with different casts and settings. And while we all think Daniel Craig is essential to this formula, the first 40 minutes of Wake Up Dead Man actually suggests the opposite – the vibe stands strong even without him immediately present.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery currently has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 92%.

I think it’s totally possible Benoit Blanc is involved the whole time in the third movie, even if it doesn’t always seem like it. While we hear O’Connor’s voice-over, it feels more like a way to show us how far Blanc has gotten in reading Jud’s letter – it’s less a look back in time and more like what’s happening in his head as he reads. And just like in the other movies, Blanc ends up being the key to cracking the case, offering that crucial insight we expect. Actually, the letter itself gives him a really important clue! So, he’s still incredibly important to everything that happens, it’s just interesting to see him take a bit of a backseat this time around.

Could There Eventually Be a ‘Knives Out’ Movie Without Benoit Blanc?


Netflix

With Wake Up Dead Man, director Rian Johnson delivered on his commitment to Netflix. While there aren’t currently any new Knives Out films being made, the franchise is so popular that more movies will likely happen in the future. This script demonstrates that a Knives Out mystery can succeed even without Daniel Craig’s character. The story is set in a town where people largely handle things themselves, so it would have been perfectly natural for the character Jud to investigate—either officially or on his own—to prove his innocence. This would have also offered a fresh take on the classic murder mystery formula.

The story was already progressing well when Benoit Blanc’s involvement as a relatively unbiased investigator really solidified things. It’s possible Johnson could have told this story in a previous project, Wake Up Dead Man, without needing to bring Daniel Craig back. The film already had a strong cast, including established stars like Josh Brolin and Jeremy Renner, who would have drawn an audience even without Craig, though Craig’s Bond fame certainly helped.

Even though a new Knives Out mystery could likely succeed without Daniel Craig’s character, Benoit Blanc, Rian Johnson doesn’t seem interested in moving on from him. Johnson recently told The Hollywood Reporter he felt creatively refreshed after making Wake Up Dead Man, and he and Craig have already begun brainstorming ideas for a potential sequel. This indicates Benoit Blanc will probably be back if another Knives Out film is made, though Wake Up Dead Man doesn’t completely rule out the possibility of the character eventually leaving the series.

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2025-12-16 01:23