Netflix Plots Sequel to French Hit ‘Under Paris’ with Bérénice Bejo

Despite its seemingly final ending, the French shark thriller ‘Under Paris’ has paved the way for a sequel. According to Variety, filmmaker Xavier Gens is back at the drawing board, spurred by the film’s record-breaking debut as Netflix’s most-watched non-English language film with over 102.3 million views.

The forthcoming movie, set to begin production as early as September 2025, will bring back several key cast members.

Bérénice Bejo, known for her Oscar-nominated role in ‘The Artist’, returns as a grief-stricken activist. She’s joined by Nassim Lyes from ‘Mayhem!’, who will reprise his role as a cop.

In a recent discussion with La Tribune, Bejo shared her excitement about diving back into the chilling waters of the Parisian underground.

Although filming might kick off a bit later, possibly stretching into 2026, the anticipation is already high. ‘Under Paris’ initially caught viewers’ attention with its satirical edge and timely release before the Paris Olympics.

It combined a critical view of political maneuvering with the horror of athletes being consumed by sharks in the Seine—a nod to real-world controversies surrounding the event.

Xavier Gens hinted that if the sequel were to happen, it would explore a Paris completely engulfed by water, potentially expanding the story into the eerie depths of the city’s catacombs.

Gens, who previously directed episodes of ‘Lupin’ for Netflix, expressed his challenge in funding genre films in France, where budgets are typically restrictive.

However, with Netflix’s backing, the first installment managed a substantial budget of up to €20 million.

Given the original film’s global acclaim and a shout-out from horror icon Stephen King, who praised the film on X for exceeding his expectations, the sequel might see even more robust financial support.

The original ‘Under Paris’ stands as Netflix’s second most-watched non-English film, trailing only behind ‘Troll’.

Despite mixed reviews domestically, its international success has solidified its standing in the genre, challenging the notion that only American or Korean studios can successfully create shark films.

With the upcoming sequel, Gens is set to dive deeper into the dark and flooded future of Paris.

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