Jeremy Renner, who miraculously survived being run over by a 14,000-pound snowplough on New Year’s Day 2023 while protecting his nephew, has opened up about how the cast of his upcoming film Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery played a crucial role in his recovery.

Speaking to Variety, Renner described the experience of returning to work after such a traumatic accident. “It’s a lot of support, man. It’s lovely to have it. There’s such a communion and camaraderie that happens, especially in a movie like this. This is not even really a movie to me; it’s more like a stage play. We’re always together; we’re always in each other’s faces, even when we’re acting. When you have 15 people on a camera, you spend a lot of time with them. It reminds me of doing a play. It feels good to be back and welcomed back to the job that I love, with really great people.”

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery marks the third instalment in Rian Johnson’s hit franchise, which continues to follow Daniel Craig’s detective Benoit Blanc. The ensemble cast also features Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6 and is set to arrive on Netflix for a wide release on December 12. Johnson, who directed, wrote, and produced the first two chapters of the series, reprises all three roles for this latest instalment.

For Renner, returning to a collaborative, tight-knit set after his accident offered both comfort and inspiration, reaffirming his love for acting amid one of the most challenging periods of his life.