Netflix has begun production on “Under Paris 2,” the sequel to its record-breaking French shark thriller, following the original film’s massive global success.
Filming is now underway in southern France, marking the return of lead actors Bérénice Bejo and Nassim Lyes. They are joined again by Guillaume Gouix, Phillippe Bas, Manon Bresch, and Anne Marivin, as the story pushes deeper into a disaster that reshaped Paris.
The sequel picks up three years after the deadly events of the first film. What began as a triathlon in the heart of Paris spiraled into chaos when mutated sharks invaded the River Seine. Efforts to stop them failed, triggering widespread flooding that left much of the capital underwater.
“Three years after the Paris triathlon disaster, the center of the Capital is submerged,” reads the logline for the sequel. “Sophia (Bejo) and Adil (Lyes) reunite for a high-risk mission: to track Lilith, the original predator, in the shark-infested Seine. There, they will discover that the deadly wildlife hides a much more surprising reality…”
The directing role shifts this time. Alexandre Aja, known for “Piranha 3D,” takes over from Xavier Gens, who directed and wrote the first film. Gens remains involved as co-writer and associate producer. The writing team also includes Gregory Levasseur, Frédéric Garcia, William Laboury, and Fanny Talmone. Vincent Roget serves as producer.
Aja expressed a personal connection to the project. “I love Paris, and I always wanted to make a shark movie, so it was an obvious yes when the opportunity came to take the story even deeper,” he said.
The original “Under Paris” proved to be an unexpected global hit. Released in 2024, it drew over 102 million views, making it Netflix’s most-watched French film and the second most popular non-English movie on the platform. Its success surprised many in the industry, especially after several French studios initially passed on the project.
Critics also responded positively. Variety’s reviewer wrote: “Netflix’s new thriller swims rather than sinks as it adds life to a genre that’s been bloodless for far too long.”
With production now in motion, Netflix appears ready to build on that momentum, expanding a franchise that turned an unlikely concept into a global streaming phenomenon.
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