What happens to Josh O'connor's character In Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery? details explained

The third installment in Rian Johnson's mystery film series, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, sees detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) tackling his most challenging case yet.

Set in a remote New York Catholic parish, the plot centers on the seemingly impossible locked-room murder of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks. Blanc investigates a group of unusual individuals who may be suspects, including a young priest in trouble (Josh O'Connor). His job is to solve a deep mystery involving faith, money problems, and secrets. The film is now available to stream globally on Netflix.

In Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Josh O'Connor's character, Rev. Jud Duplenticy, is proven innocent. He focuses on his faith, renaming his parish and hiding the valuable diamond within the new church crucifix, choosing ministry over fortune.

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Josh O'Connor's Jud Duplenticy's fate in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery explored

In Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Josh O’Connor’s character, Father Jud Duplenticy, goes through one of the most interesting and emotional journeys in the whole movie, moving from being suspected and full of doubt to finding peace and a clear purpose.

Jud is introduced as a young priest struggling with a rough past and deep inner conflict. He has been moved to a small, isolated church where he works under the strict supervision of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks. His bad relationship with Wicks makes him look suspicious to everyone.

Everything turns upside down when Wicks is suddenly and brutally murdered during a Good Friday service. Everything points to Jud: he was close by, the murder seemed impossible to commit, and clues tie him to the weapon.

As the church panics, Jud becomes the main suspect, not just to the police, but even to himself. His faith, which was already shaky, almost breaks completely as he fights feelings of guilt, fear, and the worry that he can't escape his violent history.

Then, the famous detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) steps in. His investigation slowly starts pulling back the curtain on the lies surrounding the murder. As the full truth comes out, it’s revealed that Jud was intentionally set up as part of a much bigger, complicated plan driven by greed and people pulling strings.

This discovery clears his name, exposes the real bad guys, and finally takes away the heavy burden he’s been carrying. In the conclusion, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Jud is safe both physically and spiritually. He is cleared of the murder and is left in charge of the church’s future, which is even symbolized by his taking care of the church’s hidden treasure.

In the last moment, as new people come to the church, Jud is seen installing a new cross. The valuable pink diamond is revealed to be hidden and shining within the heart of the new crucifix, which shows that Jud chose to use the wealth to save the church and his ministry, not for his own gain.