‘Knives Out’ Star Toni Collette Teases ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Is the ‘Best’ of the Franchise: ‘Electric’ (Exclusive)

Toni Collette insists that the new Knives Out movie is the “best” one of the franchise — and yes, that’s including her own.

During her recent cover story with Us Weekly, Collette, 52, reflected on attending the premiere for Knives Out 3: Wake Up Dead Man at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month — six years after she starred as Joni Thrombey in the first film. The actress confessed that while she “didn’t know what to expect” by the new installment from Rian Johnson, he ultimately left her completely impressed.

“First of all, I was kind of panicked. I thought, ‘Oh my God, I hope I don’t fall asleep.’ It would be dreadful,” she exclusively told Us with a laugh. “But I was electrified. “I was so inspired. It is the most intelligent, fun, specifically detailed, like, saturated with incredible performances and hilarity, and, like, real moments of questioning who we are and faith.”

Collette added that she hasn’t seen “anything like” Dead Man — which hits Netflix on December 12 — in “such a long time.”

“It’s a f***ing amazing movie,” she claimed, noting how “proud” and “happy” it makes her to see Johnson and the cast shine.

Wake Up Dead Man stars the returning Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc, alongside newcomers Josh O’Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Kerry Washington, Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, Jeremy Renner, Daryl McCormack and Mila Kunis. Collette confessed that experiencing a Knives Out premiere as a guest gave her an undeniable sense of deja vu.

“I felt really happy for the actors, because there was a Q&A afterwards, and they were talking about the experience of making the movie and how they all used to hang out together, and how it really is a true ensemble experience and that was my experience,” she recalled. “We were shooting in that mansion, and we’d all go down to this little basement and sit there and drink cups of tea and just talk.”

Colette, who played Joni Thrombey in the first Knives Out, added that the film was a “wonderful” experience and she’s glad that’s the sentiment with the new group of actors in the franchise. She credited Johnson for creating a “pure” environment.

“We had trailers, but we didn’t want to go to one. We wanted to hang out. And it’s just that vibe and that joy and that connectedness. And I think it starts with Rian,” she explained. “He’s a truly good person, and he’s so creatively astute, and so smart, and just such an inspiration as a filmmaker.”

Audiences will have to wait a few more months to experience Wake Up Dead Man, but Collette’s new limited series, Wayward, drops on Netflix later this month. Wayward tells the story of a last-resort boarding school for teens.

“I find the two young girls, the lead characters [Sydney Topliffe as Abbie and Alyvia Alyn Lind as Leila], so exciting. I wish I was their age to play one of those parts. They’re so gutsy,” Collette told Us of the series. “They’re so themselves, their friendship is so tight and loving and supportive, and then they are just put in this hot-water situation of judgment where it’s meant to be helpful, and they’re seeing through it. But also some of it feels good and it’s confusing.”

Wayward hits Netflix on Thursday, September 25.

For more on Collette, pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.