The chemistry on the set of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery was certainly memorable for cast member Josh Brolin.

While attending the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday, September 6, the star-studded cast reflected on filming the third movie of the Knives Out franchise.

“Well, when I got the phone call, it was like something out of heaven,” Glenn Close said. “I never thought of myself in one of the Knives Out movies, and I was so thrilled to be included. To hear about everyone else who was in it. We just became this wonderful ensemble company. And we kept each other company through the whole shoot.”

Close, 78, continued, “We were always in our tent laughing, sleeping, reading, getting to know each other. It’s one of the great gifts to have such an intense experience with people who you know will be your dear friends for the rest of your life.”

Knives Out quickly became a beloved franchise following its first two films — and Benoit Blanc’s adventures are just getting started. The first movie, which was released in 2019, explored the death of renowned writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) and how his wealthy, dysfunctional family may have played a role in his demise. Viewers watched […]

Brolin, 57, interjected to quip that the chemistry on set “was an orgy.” After briefly pausing while the audience laughed, he added, “Thank you!”

Mila Kunis, meanwhile, laughed before turning toward Brolin and adding, “Oh my God. Really, Josh?” Kunis, 42, went on to joke that she “put [herself] in this movie” rather than being asked to join the cast by director Rian Johnson.

“I met with Rian, and he didn’t offer me anything, and I instead offered up myself to be in the movie,” she said. “He goes, ‘I think you should read the script.’ I go, ‘Nope, I don’t need to.’ This has been a dream. An absolute dream to work with everybody, and one of the greatest productions I’ve ever been on and probably will ever be on. So, thank you, Rian.”

Alongside Brolin, Kunis and Close, Josh O’Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Jeremy Renner and Daryl McCormack have been announced as cast members. The third installment of the franchise will also see Daniel Craig reprising his role as detective Blanc.

John Wilson/Netflix Benoit Blanc is officially back on the case. On Friday, May 24, director Rian Johnson dropped a teaser for the third installment of his Knives Out franchise called Wake Up Dead Man.  The 45-second clip revealed that Daniel Craig will return as private detective Blanc, reprising his role from the franchise’s first two […]

“Putting this many stars into one film is literally the definition of herding cats,” Craig, 57, said on Saturday. “It’s logistically a nightmare. And this is the man that put it together and led us.”

In May, the cast debuted a sneak peek of the film at Netflix’s Tudum. “In the beginning, the knives came out,” Craig said via voiceover in the teaser. “Then behold, the glass was shattered. But my most dangerous case yet is about to be revealed.”

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery hits Netflix on December 12.