Daniel Craig Pushes for Major Theatrical Release of “Knives Out 3” with Netflix

Craig hopes fans can enjoy “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” on the big screen for longer than a week, following limited release frustration with “Glass Onion.”

Daniel Craig believes the third installment in the “Knives Out” series, officially titled “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” deserves an extended theatrical release. After Netflix limited the second film, Glass Onion, to just a one-week run in 2022, Craig is hopeful the streaming giant will reconsider for this latest mystery set to release in 2025.

“I think it should play in theaters longer than a week — you know I do,” Craig told Variety. “Hopefully, Netflix will give fans that opportunity. Everyone I speak to wants to enjoy it in cinemas with their families. That’s what we’re aiming for.”

The original “Knives Out,” released in 2019 by Lionsgate, became a box-office hit, grossing over $312 million worldwide and garnering writer-director Rian Johnson an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay. This success prompted Netflix to purchase the rights for two sequels. While Glass Onion debuted in 600 theaters, marking the widest release for a Netflix film in the U.S., fans were disappointed by its short theatrical run, despite screenings in AMC, Regal, and Cinemark locations.

Johnson returns as writer-director for the third installment, reuniting with Craig’s detective Benoit Blanc. The all-star supporting cast includes Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church, though plot details remain tightly under wraps. It’s still uncertain if Netflix will give Wake Up Dead Man a broader theatrical release, but Craig’s comments suggest the fans are eager for a big-screen experience.