Sometimes a film becomes a hit when no one really expects it to, and Under Paris was exactly that kind of surprise. Now, after quietly dominating viewership charts, Netflix is heading back into the chaos with a sequel already in production. And this time, it looks like the scale is getting even bigger.
The sequel, Under Paris 2, has officially started filming in the south of France, bringing back familiar faces from the first film. Bérénice Bejo and Nassim Lyes return as the central characters, joined again by actors like Guillaume Gouix, Philippe Bas, Manon Bresch, and Anne Marivin. It’s clear the makers are sticking to the core team that worked the first time, which makes sense given how well it connected with audiences.
The story picks up three years after the disaster that turned Paris into something straight out of a nightmare. What began as a triathlon event in the Seine quickly spiraled into a bloodbath when mutated sharks invaded the river and started multiplying. Attempts to contain them only made things worse, eventually flooding large parts of the city. And now, in the sequel, that aftermath becomes the starting point.
The official premise suggests that Paris is still dealing with the consequences, with parts of the capital submerged. Sophia and Adil reunite for another dangerous mission, this time tracking the original predator, Lilith, deep within shark-infested waters. But it’s not just about survival anymore. The story hints at a bigger, more unexpected layer behind the threat, which could take the narrative beyond just creature horror.
There’s also a shift behind the camera this time. Alexandre Aja, known for his work on Piranha 3D, is stepping in as director. He takes over from Xavier Gens, who directed the original film but remains involved as a co-writer and associate producer. This change could bring a slightly different tone, possibly leaning more into high-intensity horror and spectacle.
What really pushed this sequel into existence is the unexpected success of Under Paris. The film crossed over 100 million views, becoming Netflix’s most-watched French film ever and one of its biggest non-English hits. What makes that even more interesting is that the project was initially rejected by several studios before Netflix picked it up. That turnaround story alone says a lot about how unpredictable streaming success can be.
Critics also responded better than expected. Some even compared it to Jaws, which is not something you hear often for modern shark movies. The genre has struggled for years to stay relevant, but Under Paris managed to bring back a sense of tension and fun that audiences had been missing.
With Under Paris 2, the challenge now is bigger. The first film worked partly because it came out of nowhere. The sequel doesn’t have that advantage. Expectations are higher, the scale is larger, and the story needs to push beyond just repeating the same formula.
For now, production is underway, and details are still limited. But one thing is clear — Netflix is betting big on turning this into a proper franchise. And if the sequel manages to expand the story while keeping that chaotic energy intact, it could easily become one of the platform’s most successful international series of films. Because once a shark story finds its audience, it rarely lets go that easily.
