AceShowbiz - Under Paris shattered records as Netflix's most-watched French film and the second most-watched non-English language film of all time on Netflix. The 2024 action-horror hit centers on a giant shark lurking in the Seine River, terrorizing Paris. Now, a significant update confirms that its sequel, Under Paris 2, has officially entered production, marking a major milestone for the franchise.

According to Variety, filming has commenced in the south of France, bringing back familiar faces and introducing fresh talent. Bérénice Bejo reprises her role as marine researcher Sophia, while Nassim Lyes returns as police diver Adil. Anne Marivin also reprises her role as the Mayor of Paris. The sequel welcomes newcomers Guillaume Gouix, Phillippe Bas, and Manon Bresch to the cast, signaling an expansion of the story’s scope and character dynamics.

The sequel’s plot is set three years after the catastrophic events of the first film. A logline reveals that the center of Paris remains submerged following the triathlon disaster. Sophia and Adil reunite for a perilous mission to track down Lilith, the original predator shark, which has begun reproducing in the flooded city. The logline teases a deeper mystery beyond the deadly wildlife that plagues the Seine:

“Three years after the Paris triathlon disaster, the center of the Capital is submerged. 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 creative team behind Under Paris 2 includes original director and co-writer Xavier Gens, who returns alongside Gregory Levasseur, Frédéric Garcia, William Laboury, and Fanny Talmone. Joining them as director and co-writer is Alexandre Aja, known for his work on the 2019 alligator horror film Crawl and the 2024 survival horror Never Let Go, starring Halle Berry. Both Gens and Aja serve as associate producers, while Vincent Roget takes on producer duties.

Aja shared his excitement about directing and co-writing the sequel: “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.”

Under Paris earned acclaim for its thrilling blend of action and horror, often drawing comparisons to the classic Jaws for its shark-centric storyline. However, it distinguishes itself with a uniquely French perspective that expands beyond a simple monster movie, portraying the devastating effects of a mutant shark on Paris and potentially the world. The film’s brutal kills and high-energy disaster narrative have made it memorable, setting a high bar for the sequel.

The original film concluded with Lilith’s freedom and the city of Paris flooded, as her offspring begin to spread throughout the city’s waters. An end-credits sequence implied an apocalyptic scenario, with mutant sharks dispersing into bodies of water worldwide, hinting at a global threat. Under Paris 2 will explore this broader context while focusing on the core characters’ mission to contain the predator threat in a ravaged Paris.

Despite production only just starting, the logline and casting news indicate that the sequel promises to expand the flooded world of Paris and deepen the narrative stakes. Fans can anticipate a compelling continuation that blends horror, action, and mystery, building on the foundation laid by the original.

For those eager to stay informed on the progress of Under Paris 2, subscribing to newsletters covering on-location filming, casting updates, and creative developments will provide detailed insights as the project advances.

With its strong returning cast, acclaimed creative team, and a storyline that raises the stakes into a near-apocalyptic scale, Under Paris 2 is shaping up to be a highly anticipated follow-up that will expand the terrifying world introduced in the first film.