You could credit the Knives Out franchise with single-handedly reviving our obsession with the murder mystery. Under the sharp (and delightfully Southern) direction of detective Benoit Blanc — Daniel Craig in his most charming form — we’ve been taken through two twisty, turny tales of deceit, family feuds, and far too many A-listers to count.
And they’re not alone in this revival: film adaptations like The Thursday Murder Club and the upcoming Agatha Christie series, The Seven Dials Mystery, starring Mia McBruce and Helena Bonham Carter, promise to continue the trend of star-studded, suspenseful whodunits.
But the third instalment promises even more chaos. Alongside the ever-enigmatic Craig, Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man boasts a cast so stacked it sounds like an awards-season fever dream: Josh O’Connor, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington and Mila Kunis. Yes, apparently that much star power can fit into a single table read.
This time, O’Connor takes the lead as a troubled priest starting fresh at a new parish until, naturally, a mysterious death turns everything upside down and summons Blanc to the scene. If the first film explored greed and the second pride, this one goes biblical, diving straight into the concept of sin itself.
Glamour sat down with Washington, Spaeny and Kunis to talk Hollywood’s fear of ageing, working with Craig, and, of course, to play Glamour’s ‘Friendship Test’…
Glamour: What were your first impressions of each other?
Mila: I was stoked to work with Kerry. I learned just yesterday that we’ve actually known each other for twenty years. Cailee, I loved you as an actress! I thought, This is going to be awesome. And honestly, you were the nicest, cutest thing on the planet.
Cailee: It’s a very intimidating job to get, and an intimidating cast to walk into. You really want the women to have your back, and I felt so taken care of by you guys.
Kerry: I was excited to see [Mila], she’s such a good time, always ready, and game, and open. And then Cailee… I thought, ‘Oh my God, this girl is an extraordinary young actress, ’ and I was really excited to meet her. Then to meet her, and she’s so humble and charming and kind.
Glamour: Why do you think we're seeing such a return to murder mysteries in recent years?
Kerry: I think there’s something so interactive about it. It doesn’t feel like passive viewership, because we’re trying to figure it out alongside the characters in the material. It makes us more engaged and immersed — like we’re really living through the characters in a different kind of way. And there’s something so exciting when we get to be surprised. There aren’t a lot of surprises left in life, you know? So to be on a roller coaster like that, where you’re shocked by the reveal of something, it makes you feel a little more alive.
Glamour: Something that struck me immediately when watching the film is that we're unafraid to show Daniel Craig ageing, but this is a grace we don’t often see shared to women. Have any of you experienced this in your own careers?
Mila: I’d like for you to look at my roots right now. I have grey roots, and I only dye them when I have to. So, yes and no.
I think it’s hard. Women compare themselves to other women. Men don’t always compare themselves to other men, as it pertains to hair colour. They’ll compare themselves in terms of athletic ability, physique, strength, things like that. But I think that’s human nature, that’s always happened.
I’ve been very fortunate — maybe my ego is big — but I’ve never had to compare myself to another person. If anything, I can admire people for what they look like. Because of that, I don’t ever go, ‘Oh my God, they don’t have that wrinkle, so I can’t have that wrinkle, or they have perfect hair, so I have to have perfect hair.’ I feel very confident, maybe it’s a false sense of confidence, but nonetheless, it’s there somewhere.
Maybe it’s because I don’t have social media. I don’t have that constant mirror looking back at me, saying, ‘You’re this, you’re XYZ.’ I don’t read comments about myself. I just… feel good about myself.
Cailee: That’s a good tip to not read comments about yourself.
Mila: No, why? I like myself!
Kerry: I love that answer. I think it’s such an interesting question, because honestly, it tells me a lot about what audiences might be craving. The fact that you are noticing that is an interesting thing to elevate and vocalise out in the world. Because I think if people want to see women ageing in a different kind of way, then they should express that and support that.
You look at a film like this, and you see someone like Glenn Close — she’s in her seventies, has more energy than the three of us combined, looks gorgeous, and is not frozen in time. I think it’s easy to fall into a trap of thinking there’s only one standard of beauty, because there’s definitely a segment of culture and society that’s prioritising youth always. But I do think there are also opportunities for women of my age, Mila’s age, Glenn’s age, women of all ages to be working right now in far greater numbers than there were twenty years ago.
So, yeah, I think it’s important that we show up and celebrate the Glenn Closes of the world — who look amazing, are doing amazing work, and are strong, healthy, and vibrant. So that becoming an icon — like a gorgeous icon, diva woman — is something we all know we can do.
Glamour: Cailee, your character Simone really grapples with religion as a form of faith in her overwhelming situation. Not to spoil too much for those who haven’t seen it, but is that something you felt you could relate to in today’s climate? That idea of seeking faith, seeking hope?
Cailee: I think everyone’s looking for that right now, and I think that’s what’s so beautiful about this movie: it is approaching different styles of beliefs and opinions, but coming from a place of grace and humanity.
Even in my initial conversation with Rian, both coming from religious backgrounds and what that journey has been like as we’ve grown away from the church. I think it’s so impressive that he has this murder mystery — an incredibly entertaining film — and at the same time has dropped in such a nuanced, complicated, heartfelt conversation. That’s actually what drew me to the project, along with so many other things.
Glamour: Who's most likely to take a nap between takes?
Mila: Andrew Scott.
Kerry: Andrew Scott, he's not here, but he's the girlie most likely to take a nap.
Glamour: Who would be most likely to break into improv on set?
Kerry: Mila.
Mila: Yes.
Cailee: Really?
Mila: Yeah, mostly because — I don't need a justification.
Kerry: She’s always creating.
Glamour: Who would be most likely to help you bury a body, or in this case, put it in a crypt?
Cailee: I’ve been saying both of you two.
Mila: Oh my God, I love you. I said Josh Brolin.
Cailee: [To Mila], you’ve got so many resources, you know where to go, your car’s going to be there.
Mila: Call me.
Cailee: [To Kerry], you would be good at covering it up, because I believe everything coming out of your mouth, every word you say.
Kerry: Okay, we could do it.
Glamour: Who is the most chronically online?
Kerry: Yeah, that would be me.
Mila: Kerry. I’m obsessed with Kerry and her TikToking. I’ve harassed Kerry, ‘Listen, we’re doing this press tour, I wanna get on your TikToks.’
Kerry: Mila is about to appear on my TikTok.
Mila: This is my dream, I love TikTok.
Glamour: Who's most likely to act as the detective on set? So, in the case of the missing bagel, or something far more interesting?
Kerry: Mila.
Cailee: Yeah, it’s you.
Glamour: Who would be guilty?
Kerry: I’m going to say Daryl [McCormack].
Cailee: Daryl did it.
Kerry: Daryl would have the missing bagel. He'd act like he doesn't, but he has it.
Mila: And it's in his little bag. You know what? I mean, it's just stuffed with things.
Glamour: Mila, your character really went toe-to-toe with Benoit Blanc, Daniel Craig.
Mila: Well, listen… she did the best she could. I mean, she tried.
Cailee: She was a powerhouse!
Kerry: I agree. Also, my favourite thing about Mila — and I say this all the time — is that they tried so hard to make her look like just an everyday cop. But every time she’s on screen, you’re like… 'that girl’s gorgeous'.
This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.
Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man is released in cinemas on 26 November and on Netflix on 12 December.
