BRAT Summer is over and LFF Autumn is officially here as the BFI announce the International Premiere of Rian Johnson‘s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery as the Opening Night Gala for this year’s BFI London Film Festival.

The ensemble cast is once again a marvellous amalgamation of fast-rising talents such as Cailee Spaeny and Josh O’Connor alongside seasoned silver-screen stars with Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church and Jeremy Renner all tangled up in Benoit Blanc’s newest (and most dangerous) case to date.

Daniel Craig, of course, is returning with his infamous style and his “Kentucky-fried Foghorn Leghorn drawl.”

Sticking to the theme, all plot details for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery are still under wraps — except a few sneak peeks of O’Connor and Scott huddled over in a graveyard, and Craig rocking a new hairdo. The teaser is sparse in details, but places O’Connor is a muddied light (quite literally.)

The International Premiere of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery marks the return of Rian Johnson and his beloved, eccentric and undeniably classic detective series to LFF, with the first instalment premiering as the 63rd festival’s Amex Gala in 2019, and his second  Knives Out feature entitled Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery closing the 66th London Film Festival in 2022.

Johnson expressed his excitement at his return:

“We’re honoured to be opening the BFI London Film Festival with Wake Up Dead Man… London is the birthplace of the golden age of detective fiction, and it’s a thrill to be back.”

Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director, shared high praise for the film, stating:

“Led by Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor, the film features incredible British and international talent on and off screen who bring a sense of play and verve to the screen, to craft a film that twists, turns and will keep the audiences guessing to the final frame. The third of the brilliant Knives Out films we have presented at the LFF, we are delighted to reunite for our special Opening Night.”

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery releases on Netflix on 12 December 2025, but if you asked me… I’d want to solve this mystery on the big screen.

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Venues:

• Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall for red-carpet galas
• BFI Southbank acts as the home of competition programme, series, Screen Talks and free events
• BFI IMAX will host LFF screenings
• Marie Rambert Studio, Rambert, BFI IMAX and BFI Southbank will screen LFF Expanded works
• Picturehouse Central will host press and industry screenings
• Partner Cinemas in London West End include: Curzon Mayfair, Curzon Soho, Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), Prince Charles Cinema and Vue West End.
• Festival venues across UK include:
  • Broadway Cinema, Nottingham
  • Chapter, Cardiff
  • Filmhouse, Edinburgh
  • HOME, Manchester
  • MAC, Birmingham
  • National Science and Media Museum, Bradford
  • Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast
  • Showroom Cinema, Sheffield
  • Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle
  • Watershed, Bristol

Important Dates:

• 3rd September: Programme revealed
• 9th September: Priority booking for BFI Members (10am)
• 16th September: Tickets on general sale (10am)
• 2nd October: Extra ticket released for some screenings and events (10am)
• 8-19th October: The Festival takes place

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