Rian Johnson’s highly anticipated third instalment of the Knives Out series has officially been titled “Wake Up Dead Man,” a name that seems to pay homage to U2, per clutchpoints.com. The title shares its name with a track from U2’s 1997 album, Pop. This subtle nod to the legendary Irish rock band aligns with Johnson’s previous music-inspired titles within the franchise.
While there’s no official confirmation from Johnson about the reference, it wouldn’t be the first time he has borrowed song titles. The original Knives Out took its name from a Radiohead song, and the sequel, Glass Onion, was named after a Beatles track. Notably, Glass Onion featured Edward Norton playing “Blackbird” on Paul McCartney’s guitar, further cementing the connection between Johnson’s films and iconic music.
U2 acknowledged the title with a playful post on X (formerly Twitter), which Johnson liked. The band’s post read, “We see what you did there… @rianjohnson,” alongside the movie’s promotional material.
“Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” will once again feature Daniel Craig reprising his role as the enigmatic detective Benoit Blanc. Although plot details remain under wraps, the cast is shaping up to be impressive, with Josh O’Connor and Cailee Spaeny joining the ensemble. O’Connor, renowned for his role in The Crown, and Spaeny, fresh off her performance in Priscilla, are expected to bring fresh dynamics to the franchise.
The Knives Out series began with the 2019 film, which grossed over $312 million on a $40 million budget. Following its success, Netflix acquired the rights to two sequels. The first sequel, Glass Onion, premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival and enjoyed a limited theatrical release before hitting Netflix.
U2’s song “Wake Up Dead Man,” the title track from their album Pop, was performed during their “PopMart” and “Elevation” tours. Despite Pop receiving mixed reviews, U2 remains one of the world’s most enduring rock bands, with 15 studio albums and 22 Grammy Awards to their name. Recently, they completed a successful residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, celebrating their Achtung Baby album.
Fans of both U2 and the Knives Out series eagerly await the intersection of these two cultural powerhouses in “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.”
