Wake Up Dead Man, the new installment in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series, will mark Jeremy Renner’s big-screen return after sustaining near-fatal injuries from a snowplow accident back in 2023. Despite the gravity of his injuries, Renner made a remarkable recovery, with Wake Up Dead Man being the first movie he filmed after the traumatic event. Speaking of the movie, the actor told Variety it felt great to return to the job he loves.
"Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" was the first movie Jeremy Renner filmed after his near-death snow plow accident. He says "it felt great to be back" on a movie set with "people I love."
"It's a lot of support, man. It's lovely to have it."
Variety #TIFF Studio pic.twitter.com/KjfxERcEFi
— Variety (@Variety) September 6, 2025
Although Renner has appeared in other projects before, most notably Taylor Sheridan‘s Mayor of Kingstown, the forthcoming installment in Rian Johnson’s franchise will be his first theatrical release since his work in Marvel.
Jeremy Renner Compared Wake Up Dead Man to His Tenure in Marvel
No stranger to being kept in the dark during productions, thanks to his years-long stint in the MCU, where secrecy is the utmost priority, the actor compared his time on Wake Up Dead Man
During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the actor revealed nothing seemed to ruffle Johnson’s feathers, as not only fans, but even cast members, weren’t allowed to know everything.
I can’t say anything. I can’t. I don’t know how he’s using it or not using — I don’t know. He’s such an interesting guy, Rian. He’s such a great, smart dude. Way too nice for that too. And it’s a guy — nothing ruffles his feathers… It’s like a Marvel movie, really, because I don’t know what the heck I did.
Considering how well-received the previous two movies were, it’ll be interesting to see if Johnson can once again subvert expectations with this star-studded affair.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery to Hit Theaters Before Netflix Premiere
For all the talk about theaters becoming an outmoded experience, Netflix’s most celebrated big-screen IP will be arriving on the big screen prior to debuting on the streaming service. Moreover, compared to Glass Onion, whose legs were cut short after a limited release window during the Thanksgiving weekend, the theatrical duration for Wake Up Dead Man will be two weeks, starting from November 26 (via Variety).
As for the potential reasoning behind its extension, we might have Johnson to thank for it, as the director was adamant about bringing this story to theatres for as long as possible.
I want this in as many theaters for as long as possible. We’re going to push for everything we can get in terms of theatrical, because I want as many people as possible to see it in that form.
It also helps that the sequel, despite its relatively short run, became one of the highest-grossing Netflix originals at the box office.
| Movie | IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | Box Office |
| Knives Out | 7.1 | 97% | $312.8 |
| Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery | 7.9 | 91% | $13.2M |
It’s still a shame that a traditional theatrical outing isn’t on the menu, as the movie would’ve definitely thrived in the current climate following the dwindling reception to IP-driven big-budget blockbusters. Hopefully, with future follow-ups, Johnson would be able to nab an even better deal for the audience.
Are you excited to see Benoit Blanc excel at another unconventional case?
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will release in limited screens on November 26 before exclusively premiering on Netflix on December 12 (USA).