Summary
Andrew Scott joining the cast ofWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, orKnives Out 3, will circle back to one of his most prolific television characters. Scott is one of the latest additions to the highly anticipatedKnives OutandGlass Onionsequel fromRian Johnson, the acclaimed screenwriter and director ofPokerFace,Looper, andBrick.Scandalstar Kerry Washington has also been confirmedto join Daniel Craig as he reprises his iconic role of Benoit Blanc inKnives Out 3, a private investigator who is widely considered to be the best in the business.
Josh O’Connor (Challengers) and Cailee Spaeny (Civil War,Priscilla) have also joined thecast ofWake Up Dead Man, whileTom Hardy and Lindsay Lohan are currently rumored but unconfirmedto be attached.Johnson released a teaser trailerthat revealed the title ofKnives Out 3narrated by Daniel Craig. Johnson posted the trailer on X (Twitter) and wrote, “We’re about to go into production on the 3rd one, and I’m very, very excited to share the title, which gives a little hint of where it’s going.” The teaser briefly recapped the previous two installments before a black coffin twirls into frame and the titleWake Up Dead Manis revealed.
Andrew Scott In A Benoit Blanc Movie Is Perfect After Sherlock’s Moriarty Role
Moriarty was a great enemy of the prolific detective
While Sherlock Holmes was considered a prolific detective, Moriarty was a criminal mastermind.
Andrew Scott is poised to be the perfect addition to theKnives Outuniverse following his legendary role as Professor Moriarty in the celebrated seriesSherlock. A crucial character in the Benedict Cumberbatch-led series, Professor Moriarty, as played by Andrew Scott, first appeared in season one, episode three titled “The Great Game.” He would go on to become the greatest enemy of Sherlock Holmes and the man who infamously bested him in theSherlockseries finale “The Final Problem”. As one of Scott’s earliest television characters, which he last appeared as in 2017,Moriarty is a great indication of Scott’s potential inKnives Out 3.
While Sherlock Holmes was considered a prolific detective, Moriarty was a criminal mastermind who proved to be the only one who could match, elude, and eventually beat Sherlock at his own game. It would be somewhatsymbolic if Scott’s character inKnives Out 3turned out to be the key suspect or culpritin the anticipated murder thatWake Up Dead Manis expected to center on. While there are virtually no details that are currently available about the plot of the upcoming Rian Johnson film, Scott, as well as the characters played by O’Connor, Spaeny, and Washington, will likely all be potential killers.
Knives Out 3’s Title: Wake Up Dead Man & Its Meaning Explained
The mysterious title of Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out film Wake Up Dead Man could share a thematic connection with a famous rock & roll band.
Why Andrew Scott Is Such A Great Addition To Knives Out 3’s Cast
Scott is a phenomenal actor with a wide comedic and dramatic range
Scott can not only capture a sinister coldness in his antagonists and a relatable vulnerability in his protagonists, but he can also combine these elements into a singular role.
Scott has only gotten better at his craft since starring as Moriarty inSherlockand has emerged in recent years as one of the most versatile and in-demand actors working today. His performance asThe Priest inFleabagseason 2 is one of his most notable rolesalongside Phoebe Waller-Bridge. He starred in one of the better episodes ofBlack Mirrorseason 5 titled “Smithereens” as a ride-share driver who had gone rogue to send a message to a giant tech guru. He appeared in the Oscar-winning WWII film1917in 2019 and starred alongside Paul Mescal (Aftersun,Gladiator 2) in the celebrated 2023 filmAll of Us Strangers.
Scott also starred as the titular protagonist inNetflix’s 2024 limited seriesRipley, written and directed by Steven Zallian and based onThe Talented Mr. Ripleynovel by Patricia Highsmith. Even just by viewing his roles inAll of Us StrangersandRipleyalone, it’s blatantly clear thatScott’s range as an actor is essentially as good as it gets. Scott can not only capture a sinister coldness in his antagonists and a relatable vulnerability in his protagonists, but he can also combine these elements into a singular role.Ripleyis arguably Scott’s best overall performance because it showcases his incredible versatility.
25 Best Movies Like Knives Out
Rian Johnson’s smash-hit murder mystery film Knives Out is a fun, comforting, hilarious watch, and there are plenty of enjoyable movies like it.
Knives Out 3 Won’t Be Andrew Scott & Daniel Craig’s First Movie Together
Both actors starred in Spectre (2015)
Another great aspect of Scott joining the cast ofWake Up Dead Manis that it will reunite him with Craig after they both starred in 2015’s James Bond blockbusterSpectre. Scott played Max Denbigh, better known as C, inSpectre, a corrupt Director of the Joint Security Service who ends up being Bond’s antagonist. Given that Scott is one of the first actors to be cast inKnives Out 3, and considering that he has a history of playing unsuspecting villains, it could very well be that his character inWake Up Dead Manwill turn out to be the one guilty of the anticipated murder.
