The director behind Netflix's latest chart-topping film has let fans in on a secret: a major cameo from a frequent collaborator that most viewers have completely missed. Rian Johnson has confirmed that actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes a subtle appearance in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, continuing a long-running tradition between the pair.
The Secret is in the Sound
In a recent interview, Johnson was asked about Gordon-Levitt's involvement after a reporter admitted to missing his appearance. The director revealed the cleverly hidden detail. "He's in it. He's - listen - he's the baseball announcer on the TV," Johnson explained. "And you can hear him in one scene in particular, you really hear him talk. And I got to write baseball commentary for him to say. So, got him in."
This audio cameo marks the third time Gordon-Levitt has lent his voice to the Knives Out franchise. He previously voiced Detective Hardrock in the original 2019 film and was the hourly 'dong' heard in 2022's Glass Onion. His involvement ensures he has appeared, in some capacity, in every single one of Rian Johnson's feature films to date.
A Long-Standing Cinematic Partnership
The collaboration between Johnson and Gordon-Levitt is one of Hollywood's most consistent. It began with Johnson's feature directorial debut, Brick, in 2005. Since then, the actor has found a place in all of Johnson's projects.
His roles have ranged from prominent to blink-and-you'll-miss-it. In The Brothers Bloom, he is a background extra in a bar scene. He took a leading role in the sci-fi thriller Looper. He even voiced an alien named Slowen Lo in Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi. This pattern makes his cameo in Wake Up Dead Man both a fun Easter egg for fans and a cherished ritual for the filmmaker.
Wake Up Dead Man Dominates Netflix
The revelation comes as the film itself enjoys massive success. Wake Up Dead Man claimed the number one spot on Netflix's charts just days after its release on the platform on Friday, 13 December 2025. It had previously enjoyed a limited run in cinemas.
The film is the third instalment in the popular mystery series starring Daniel Craig as the inimitable Detective Benoit Blanc. This time, Blanc is drawn into a case in a small town rocked by a seemingly impossible murder. He joins forces with local police chief Geraldine Scott to investigate a clergy community surrounding the charismatic Monsignor Jefferson Wicks and his young assistant, Jud Duplenticy.
As with its predecessors, the film has sparked fervent discussion online, with viewers dissecting every clue. Johnson's confirmation of Gordon-Levitt's cameo adds another layer to the puzzle-box experience he is known for, proving that in a Knives Out mystery, you need to pay attention to everything—even the background noise on a television.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is streaming now on Netflix.
