Almost half a year before Knives Out 3’s release, a clever fan theory might have solved best mystery film franchises, alongside Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot movies and Sherlock Holmes. Although the first film came out in theaters, Glass Onion was released exclusively on Netflix, and a third film was quickly picked up.

Unfortunately, it’s been three years since the sequel’s release, making fans antsy. Knives Out 3 is, without a doubt, one of the most anticipated films of 2025. Sadly, fans will have to wait another half a year since Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Story is coming out in Fall 2025. Information about the project has remained sparse, except for the cast announcements. While waiting, fans have taken to theorizing about the characters. One of the most compelling theories might have solved the mystery of the killer’s identity by looking back at past films.

Knives Out 3 Theory Suggests Jeremy Renner Is The Killer In Wake Up Dead Man

Every Knives Out Killer Has Been A Specific Type Of MCU Actor

One of the best Knives Out 3 theories links back to the casting of the previous killers. In Knives Out, Chris Evans plays Ransom Drysdale, the douchebag grandson who kills his grandfather to frame the nurse, Marta. In Glass Onion, Edward Norton plays Miles Bron, a business executive who murders his former business partner, Andi, who had information to ruin his career. Then, he kills Duke when the Twitch streamer learns that Miles is the culprit.

This creates an entertaining trend where the villain actors in the Knives Out movies played heroes in Marvel Cinematic Universe projects named after them. While Chris Evan's Captain America is more recognizable, Edward Norton played Bruce Banner, aka the Incredible Hulk, in the titular MCU movie before getting recast with Mark Ruffalo. Eagle-eyed viewers will notice that one Wake Up Dead Man cast member falls into the same category.

Although Josh Brolin, Thomas Haden Church, and Jeremy Renner all appeared in the MCU, only the latter acted in a project named after his superhero. Jeremy Renner has played Hawkeye since Thor and led his own Disney+ series, where he trained Kate Bishop. Because of this, fans have started speculating that Jeremy Renner will be the murderer in Wake Up Dead Man. This theory became even more possible since the alternative theory that Jeremy Renner would play himself in Knives Out 3. It seems unlikely that a fictionalized version of the actor would be turned into the actor.

Who Jeremy Renner Could Play In Knives Out 3

Jeremy Renner's Character Could Be A Member Of The Church

Despite a compelling theory, Knives fans are left to speculate about the specific character he could play. As of the time of writing, none of the Knives Out 3 characters have names besides Benoit Blanc, including Jeremy Renner’s character. The description of Wake Up Dead Man is maddeningly vague as well, giving very few clues about the storyline. The tagline reads:

“Benoit Blanc returns in his most dangerous case yet.”

However, the newest image of Knives Out 3, which shows Benoit Blanc looking very different, provides hints about what’s to come and who Jeremy Renner might play if the theory’s correct. The photo shows the detective standing in a church with a priest leaning against a pew. This indicates that the Catholic Church will most likely be involved in the story, though it’s unclear whether the victim or the suspects will be of the diocese.

Depending on the way the murder goes, if Jeremy Renner is the killer, he could play an influential member of the Church or a disgruntled member of the congregation. At this point, this is all just speculation based on a few clues, and it might not be clear who Jeremy Renner will play until closer to Knives Out 3’s release date.

Why This Knives Out 3 Theory Might Be Too Obvious For Wake Up Dead Man

Jeremy Renner Playing The Murderer Would Ruin The Surprise

While Jeremy Renner would undoubtedly play an entertaining villain, there’s a good reason to believe the Knives Out 3 theory won’t come true. The Knives Out films are known for their comedic tone, cleverly crafted mysteries, and shocking twists. If they follow the villain trend, fans will know precisely who to suspect from the beginning, and they’ll be able to predict more of the twists.

It’s incredibly difficult to tell a compelling mystery story when the ending’s known, and this usually pushes the narrative into the thriller territory, which doesn’t fit the Knives Out franchise. The Wake Up Dead Man writers are more than likely aware of the trend and intentionally avoided casting Jeremy Renner as the murderer. Instead, he’ll likely be a suspect just like everyone else, keeping the mystery alive for Knives Out 3 viewers.