Knives Out 3 trailer hints at possible victim in ‘Wake Up Dead Man' — Here's who might die

Economic Times

01-06-2025

A Missing Presence Sparks Suspicion
Returning to the Roots of the First Film
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Simone Vivane's Death Could Alter Series Dynamics
Knives Out 3 Prepares for a Darker Turn
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What is Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery about?
Why is Cailee Spaeny's character, Simone Vivane, important?
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The recently released trailer for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third installment in Rian Johnson's acclaimed whodunit series, has generated considerable intrigue, not for what it reveals, but for what it omits. With Daniel Craig returning as detective Benoit Blanc , speculation is already mounting about the identity of the central murder victim. And if early observations from the trailer are any indication, Cailee Spaeny's character, Simone Vivane, may be the one who meets a tragic fate, as mentioned in a report by Screenrant.The Knives Out 3 trailer is deliberately sparse in plot details, instead leaning into gothic overtones and a moody atmosphere — a stark shift from the colorful, satirical tone of Glass Onion. But among the familiar faces and stylish shots, one major element appears absent: Cailee Spaeny's Simone Vivane.While the trailer confirms screen time for several key cast members — including Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, and Daryl McCormack — Spaeny is notably absent. In fact, the only two cast members who do not visibly appear are Spaeny and Thomas Haden Church, raising questions about their roles in the plot's central mystery.Based on the trailer's structure, Wake Up Dead Man may follow a narrative format closer to the first Knives Out film than to its sequel. In the original movie, a large ensemble cast was introduced only for one character to be killed off early, setting the stage for a layered mystery. Similarly, Spaeny's absence from the promotional footage suggests that her character could be the victim whose death propels the story forward.Adding to this theory is the trailer's brief glimpse of a red-lit silhouette and a lone cellist — figures some speculate could be Simone. If that is indeed Spaeny's character, it could imply that her fate is sealed early in the film, making her the tragic centerpiece of the unfolding drama.Simone's possible demise would mark a notable shift in the franchise's approach to its female characters. In the first Knives Out, Ana de Armas' Marta served as the emotional core and active participant in the investigation. Here, however, it seems Benoit Blanc may be partnered instead with Mila Kunis' character, police detective Geraldine Scott, indicating a more conventional law enforcement collaboration.The loss of a young, artistically gifted woman like Simone, especially in a setting hinted to involve religious imagery and potential supernatural elements — would bring emotional weight and thematic depth to Knives Out 3. A church, a possible priest figure, and discussions of miracles all hint at a more symbolic and perhaps morally layered murder than seen in past films.As the mystery deepens, what's clear is that Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is preparing to offer a darker, more emotionally charged chapter in the Benoit Blanc saga. While Rian Johnson remains silent on plot specifics, the trailer's visual cues — and Simone Vivane's absence — are already prompting theories.If these early impressions are accurate, Cailee Spaeny's character may serve as the story's tragic catalyst, reinforcing the gothic tone and reaffirming the franchise's commitment to reinventing the murder mystery for a new age.While plot details are under wraps, the trailer suggests a gothic murder mystery featuring Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc, with themes of loss, symbolism, and a darker emotional tone.Simone's noticeable absence from the trailer has led to fan theories that she may be the murder victim whose death propels the plot, similar to the first Knives Out film.