Connect with us

Entertainment

The New Knives Out Isn’t Just a Comeback — It’s Rian Johnson’s Boldest Reinvention Yet

Wake Up Dead Man pushes the Knives Out franchise into dark, Gothic territory, transforming a clever mystery series into something deeper and more daring

Published

on

Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man, the bold new chapter in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series
Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man, the bold new chapter in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series

What has always set Rian Johnson’s Knives Out films apart from other modern franchises isn’t just their ingeniously tangled plots or star-studded ensembles. It’s the way each installment refuses to behave like a traditional sequel. Instead of building dense lore or extending a single narrative thread, Johnson treats the series like a collection of standalone novels — closer in spirit to Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle than to contemporary cinematic universes.

With the exception of Daniel Craig’s unmistakably Southern detective Benoit Blanc, every Knives Out film begins again. New characters. New settings. New tonal experiments. This constant reset allows Johnson to dig less into fictional continuity and more into his own evolving ideas about society, power, morality, and the anxieties of the real world.

The original Knives Out (2019) was a deceptively classic whodunit that smuggled in sharp commentary about wealth, immigration, and entitlement during the Trump era. Glass Onion (2022) dialed the satire up several notches, lampooning tech billionaires, influencer culture, political opportunists, and hollow celebrity activism. Some loved its bite; others found it too broad, too eager to wink at the audience.

Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man, the bold new chapter in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series


Now comes Wake Up Dead Man, streaming on Netflix, and it does something few franchises ever manage. It doesn’t just correct course — it expands the very boundaries of what a Knives Out film can be.

This third entry takes a striking tonal turn into somber, Gothic territory. Set in a Catholic parish in a small upstate New York town, the film uses religious authority, faith, and moral absolutism as the engine for its mystery. Somehow, Johnson blends weighty questions about belief and conscience with the franchise’s signature mix of absurd humor, jump scares, and sharp dialogue — and it works.

At the center of the story is Father Jud Duplenticy (played with remarkable depth by Josh O’Connor), a young priest reassigned after a violent altercation with a senior colleague. His new posting, Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, is framed as a chance at redemption. But it quickly becomes clear that Jud has entered a spiritually suffocating environment ruled by Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), a firebrand cleric whose right-wing sermons function more as loyalty tests than religious guidance.

Wicks’ inner circle is a study in moral rigidity and emotional fragility. Glenn Close plays Martha Delacroix, the monsignor’s chillingly devout assistant. Thomas Haden Church appears as the church’s lonely groundskeeper, deeply devoted to Martha. Around them orbit a collection of damaged locals: a washed-up sci-fi novelist (Andrew Scott), an alcoholic doctor (Jeremy Renner), a successful lawyer haunted by family baggage (Kerry Washington), her influencer-minded relative (Daryl McCormack), and a gifted cellist struggling with chronic pain (Cailee Spaeny).

Jud’s gentler, more compassionate approach to faith puts him at odds with this insular group. When he dares to organize a prayer meeting without Wicks’ approval, suspicion turns quickly to hostility. Soon after, someone in this tightly wound community turns up dead — and the mystery begins.

True to form, Benoit Blanc arrives late. His entrance comes well after the film has established its uneasy atmosphere, but the delay never feels like a problem. O’Connor’s Father Jud is compelling enough to anchor the story on his own. When Blanc finally steps in, the film pivots into an unexpected buddy dynamic, pairing Jud’s spiritual intuition with Blanc’s secular logic.

Their investigation unfolds through church archives, tense interrogations, and layers of misdirection. Clues accumulate, but so do questions that can’t be solved through deduction alone. Faith and reason clash — and occasionally complement each other — as both men confront the limits of their own belief systems.

Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man, the bold new chapter in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series


For fans who felt Glass Onion leaned too heavily on topical satire, Wake Up Dead Man will feel like a revelation. It’s not just a return to the sharpness of the first film; it’s a widening of the franchise’s emotional and philosophical scope. As with earlier installments, Blanc finds an ally of uncommon moral clarity. But Father Jud is the most fully realized of these figures so far — conflicted, flawed, and searching.

Without spoiling anything, the film includes two pivotal moments — one for Jud, one for Blanc — where each man is forced to reconsider what he believes to be true. These scenes crack open the locked-room mystery format itself, suggesting that understanding human nature sometimes requires more than intelligence. It requires empathy, humility, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.

That a popular, mainstream franchise is willing to explore such territory is nothing short of remarkable. Wake Up Dead Man proves that Knives Out isn’t just surviving sequel fatigue — it’s reinventing itself in ways few series dare to attempt.

In a cinematic landscape crowded with safe repetition, Rian Johnson’s latest mystery feels like a small miracle.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Entertainment

Avengers Doomsday trailers plan leaks… Steve Rogers returns, Thor rises and Robert Downey Jr’s Doom held back for shock reveal

New rumours suggest Marvel will roll out multiple character-focused teasers before the first full Avengers film in six years hits cinemas

Published

on

By

Avengers Doomsday trailer rumours hint at Steve Rogers return and Robert Downey Jr’s Doom
Marvel Studios prepares to reintroduce Avengers icons as rumours swirl around Doomsday teaser trailers

Marvel fans may finally be on the brink of a long-awaited moment. After more than six years without a full-fledged Avengers movie, fresh rumours suggest Marvel Studios is preparing an ambitious, multi-stage trailer rollout for Avengers: Doomsday — and it starts with some of the most iconic faces in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

According to industry chatter circulating ahead of Avatar: Fire and Ash, insiders claim that Avengers: Doomsday will debut not with one teaser, but multiple character-driven trailers, each designed to slowly rebuild hype for the franchise’s next era.

(Marvel Studios )
(Avengers: Doomsday – Marvel Wiki)

Teaser 1: Steve Rogers’ quiet return

The first teaser is reportedly centred on Steve Rogers, portrayed once again by Chris Evans. Sources suggest the teaser follows Rogers riding a motorcycle along a lonely road before arriving “home” — a reveal that subtly confirms his return in Doomsday.

If true, it would mark Evans’ first on-screen Avengers appearance since Endgame, instantly reigniting speculation about timelines, variants, or multiversal consequences.

(Chris Evans )
(Steve Rogers)

Teaser 2: Thor steps back into the spotlight

The second teaser reportedly focuses on Thor Odinson, played by Chris Hemsworth. While details remain scarce, the very existence of a Thor-only teaser strongly suggests the God of Thunder will play a major role in the film’s central conflict.

Given Thor’s cosmic journey across recent MCU phases, fans believe this teaser could bridge the gap between galactic threats and the looming catastrophe implied by the title Doomsday.

(Chris Hemsworth)
(Thor)

Teaser 3: Victor von Doom — saved for last

Perhaps the most intriguing rumour concerns Victor von Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. in a stunning MCU reinvention. Insiders claim Marvel is deliberately holding back Doom’s teaser to maximise shock value and discussion.

Downey Jr.’s return — not as Iron Man, but as one of Marvel’s most iconic villains — is reportedly being treated as the crown jewel of the marketing campaign.

(Robert Downey Jr.)
(Doctor Doom)

Teaser 4: The first real look at Doomsday

The final teaser — potentially attached to Avatar: Fire and Ash — may actually function as the first full trailer. While unconfirmed, an alleged audio description paints an ominous yet hopeful tone.

avengers doomsday trailers thor doom receive trailers full v0 ADfIpRBY 2z6Upd3 O aMYMzbzBF6CEDFgsytm55lG0 Daily Global Diary - Authentic Global News

The creative minds behind the chaos

Avengers: Doomsday is directed by the Russo Brothers, the duo behind Infinity War and Endgame, instantly boosting fan confidence in the project’s scale and emotional weight.

(Russo Brothers)

The film’s reported cast includes:

  • Chris Evans as Steve Rogers
  • Chris Hemsworth as Thor Odinson
  • Robert Downey Jr. as Victor von Doom

Marvel has not officially confirmed these trailer details, but the structured rollout — if real — reflects a studio keenly aware of how much anticipation surrounds its next Avengers chapter.

Release date and what comes next

Avengers: Doomsday is currently slated for a December 17, 2026 theatrical release. With the MCU entering a new phase, Marvel appears ready to carefully reintroduce its icons — one teaser at a time.

If even half of these rumours prove true, the road to Doomsday won’t just be about spectacle — it will be about restoring the emotional core that once made Avengers movies cultural events.

For more Update – DAILYGLOBALDIARY

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Rachael Carpani dies at 45: McLeod’s Daughters star who “never wanted fame” leaves behind a powerful legacy

From Jodi Fountain to her final Home and Away role, tributes pour in as colleagues reveal the woman behind the spotlight

Published

on

By

Rachael Carpani dies at 45: McLeod’s Daughters and Home and Away actor remembered

The Australian television industry is mourning the sudden loss of Rachael Carpani, the much-loved actor best known for her roles in McLeod’s Daughters and Home and Away, who has died aged 45.

In a statement shared by her sister on Instagram, Carpani’s parents confirmed that she passed away “unexpectedly but peacefully” in the early hours of 7 December, following a long battle with chronic illness. The family did not disclose the exact cause of death and has requested privacy.

For a generation of viewers, Rachael Carpani will forever be remembered as Jodi Fountain, the wide-eyed teenager who grew up before audiences on the iconic Australian drama McLeod’s Daughters. Her performance earned her two Logie Award nominations, including a coveted Gold Logie nod in 2007, and cemented her place in Australian television history.
(McLeod’s Daughters )

Tributes from the McLeod’s family

As news of her death broke, tributes flooded social media from former co-stars and friends. Bridie Carter, who played Tess McLeod on the series, described Carpani as “the baby of the MD family” in an emotional Instagram post.

“This is the wrong order of things,” Carter wrote. “We are better people for having the privilege of sharing time with you.”

Actor Matt Passmore, who worked with Carpani on McLeod’s Daughters and later the US series Against the Wall, called her friendship “the greatest gift.”
(Matt Passmore )

rachael carpani 1420x798 1 Daily Global Diary - Authentic Global News


A star who resisted fame

Despite her success, Carpani was famously uncomfortable with celebrity. In a 2024 interview with Stellar magazine, she revealed that she once asked her agent to send her to “the acting equivalent of Siberia” to escape the pressures of fame.

“I don’t want to be famous,” she said. “Earning a living would be nice. I adore ‘action’ to ‘cut’, but everything else – the networking, the hobnobbing – I just don’t want any of it.”

True to her word, Carpani moved to Hollywood, where she was largely unknown, rebuilding her career from the ground up. She appeared in series such as NCIS: Los Angeles and The Glades, before landing the lead role in the legal drama Against the Wall. She later shared the screen with Ben Affleck in the 2020 basketball drama Finding the Way Back.
(Ben Affleck )

Her final chapter: Home and Away

In 2024, Carpani returned to Australia and joined Home and Away as mysterious newcomer Claudia Salini. Speaking at the time, she described the role as one of the happiest periods of her career.

“It was one of the most enjoyable times I’ve ever had on set,” she said. “A really lovely way to re-enter the industry.”
(Home and Away )

Unbeknown to fans, it would be her final on-screen performance.

A fearless voice on women’s health

Beyond acting, Carpani was a vocal advocate for women’s health. She spoke openly about her long struggle with endometriosis and adenomyosis, conditions that caused her chronic pain from her teenage years. Diagnosed only in her mid-30s, she criticised what she described as Australia’s failure to take women’s pain seriously.

“We are woefully behind when it comes to women’s health,” she once said.

Her advocacy resonated deeply with followers, many of whom credited her honesty with encouraging them to seek medical help.

More than an actor

On social media, Carpani also used her platform to speak out on domestic violence, the #MeToo movement, Indigenous rights, and the war in Gaza—never shying away from difficult conversations.

Her parents confirmed that a private funeral will be held on 19 December, adding: “The family requests privacy at this very difficult time and will be making no further statements.”

Rachael Carpani may never have chased fame, but her work, her courage, and her voice ensured she will not be forgotten. For fans, colleagues, and countless women who saw themselves reflected in her honesty, her absence will be deeply felt.

For more Update – DAILYGLOBALDIARY

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Hollywood’s Strangest New Trend? Fans Say KJ Apa Kevin James and Timothée Chalamet Are Secretly Living Double Lives Online…

From TikTok teachers to viral rappers, a wave of alleged celebrity alter egos has the internet asking: is this creative freedom or a sign of something deeper?

Published

on

By

Why Fans Think Actors Like Kevin James and Timothée Chalamet Have Secret TikTok Alter Egos
Fans believe Hollywood stars like Kevin James and Timothée Chalamet may be secretly running viral TikTok alter egos.

Hollywood stars have always loved reinvention. New accents, new bodies, new personas for every role. But now, a growing number of fans believe some actors are taking that transformation off-screen — and straight onto social media.

Across TikTok, whispers are growing louder: are famous actors secretly running viral accounts under fake names, pretending to be everyday people? The theories may sound absurd at first, but once you fall down the rabbit hole, it’s hard to look away.

Fans are convinced that stars like KJ Apa, Kevin James, and Timothée Chalamet are behind some of the platform’s most bizarre and beloved online personas — including Mr. Fantasy, Mr. Taylor, and rapper EsDeeKid.

Is this just internet imagination at work, or has Hollywood found a new playground?

Let’s start with the most oddly wholesome case.

One of TikTok’s most recognizable faces right now is Mr. Taylor, an elementary school art teacher who greets his audience with the same line every time:
“Hey guys! Mr. Taylor here.”

ALSO READ : Younghoe Koo Explains Botched Field Goal After Slip: “The Ball Was Moving So I Pulled Up”

With over 800,000 followers, the account features motivational pep talks, gentle life advice, and surprisingly impressive artwork. On the surface, it’s harmless and calming — exactly the kind of content people crave during uncertain times.

But fans can’t stop pointing out the similarities between Mr. Taylor and Kevin James — best known for Paul Blart: Mall Cop and The King of Queens. The facial expressions. The voice. The timing. The comedic warmth.

Some commenters joke that this is “Paul Blart after early retirement.” Others insist it’s James experimenting with a quieter, more sincere persona far removed from Hollywood expectations.

Kevin James himself hasn’t confirmed or denied anything — which, of course, only fuels the speculation.

Then there’s EsDeeKid, a low-fi rapper whose laid-back delivery and chaotic energy have caught the attention of Gen Z users. Fans swear the cadence, humor, and facial structure match none other than Timothée Chalamet, the Oscar-nominated star of Dune and Call Me by Your Name.

Chalamet, known for his unpredictable red carpet moments and internet-savvy charm, has long been considered “chronically online adjacent.” To his fans, the idea that he’d secretly experiment with a rap alter ego feels… plausible.

And finally, Mr. Fantasy — a mysterious persona many believe is tied to KJ Apa, the Riverdale actor who has quietly stepped back from the nonstop spotlight in recent years. The theory suggests Mr. Fantasy allows Apa to create without the baggage of fandom expectations or studio pressure.

ALSO READ : Younghoe Koo Explains Botched Field Goal After Slip: “The Ball Was Moving So I Pulled Up”


So why now?

Some argue this trend is a creative rebellion — actors escaping brand deals, box office pressure, and constant scrutiny by starting fresh as nobodies online. Others wonder if it’s a subtle response to a slowing entertainment industry, where traditional stardom no longer guarantees relevance.

There’s also something deeply human at play.

Social media offers anonymity, immediacy, and control — three things celebrities rarely have. Creating an alter ego means freedom. No press tours. No critics. No legacy to protect.

As platforms like TikTok blur the line between celebrity and everyday life, these alleged secret accounts reflect a larger cultural shift: fame is no longer about being known by everyone — it’s about being believed by someone.

Whether these theories are true or just another example of the internet entertaining itself, one thing is clear: audiences are fascinated by the idea that their favorite stars might be hiding in plain sight.

And maybe that’s the real fantasy — not that Hollywood has gone insane, but that even the most famous people still want to log on and pretend to be normal.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending