Key Takeaways:
– The third film in Rian Johnson’s ‘Knives Out’ mystery series gets titled ‘Wake Up Dead Man’.
– The title comes from a song by the Irish band U2, following the trend of naming films after songs initiated by Johnson.
– Daniel Craig returns as private investigator Benoit Blanc with the release set on Netflix.
– The full title for the film is ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’, mirroring previous naming conventions.
Unveiling the Third Title In Sequel
Rian Johnson, the celebrated writer and director, has continued his novel trend of naming his ‘Knives Out’ franchise films after song titles. This time he delved into the Irish band, U2’s discography finding inspiration in their song ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ for his third film. Owing to Radiohead’s ‘Knives Out’ and The Beatles’ ‘Glass Onion’ which were the namesakes for his previous films, Johnson picked another British Isles band to maintain the musical trend.
Daniel Craig Reprising his Role
Fans of the series can anticipate the return of Daniel Craig as the astute private investigator, Benoit Blanc. Having brilliantly maneuvered the unpredictable mystery plot lines in the previous films, it is without a doubt Craig will deliver another captivating performance. Notwithstanding, details about the plot are still under wraps, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Netflix’s Continuity in Release
Netflix is poised to continue its successful partnership with Johnson, committing to releasing ‘Wake Up Dead Man’. The streaming giant anticipates good ratings as they ride on the widespread popularity of the ‘Knives Out’ franchise.
Defining Features: The Long Title
The intricate title ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ is the official christening of Johnson’s third film. This mirrors the title of the previous installment ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’. Least to say, this naming convention elicited some disappointment from Johnson who desired shorter, self-contained titles.
Keeping Fans Engaged
In an earlier interaction with Empire Magazine in January 2023, Johnson expressed his excitement working on the film, emphasizing that he could not imagine doing anything other than working on the intriguing Benoit Blanc sequels. His fervent anticipation mirrors that of the impatient fan base.
Johnson’s Peculiar Naming Convention
The trademark feature of Johnson’s ‘Knives Out’ franchise is the peculiar naming convention inspired by songs of iconic bands. While this pattern has created excitement among movie enthusiasts, Johnson has been vocal about his discontent regarding the extended titles such as A Knives Out Mystery that accompanies the main title. He expressed his dislike in an interview with The Atlantic, saying, “I want it to just be called Glass Onion.”
Johnson’s love for maintaining individuality and uniqueness in his sequels is evident from his desire to be independent from serialized storytelling. However, he also understands that a signal identifier is needed for fans to easily associate the movie with the popular franchise.
The Announcement and Anticipation
Johnson first released the newly chosen title, at first cloaked in mystery, in an embedded video announcement. The unveiling has stirred a wave of anticipation sweeping across the franchise’s fanbase.
As we keenly wait for the release of ‘Wake Up Dead Man’, fans can only speculate on the intriguing story that the third film will present and how the chosen title will manifest in the film’s storyline.
Feel free to share your thoughts about the upcoming film ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ and its intriguing title in the comment section below.
