Netflix has started production on a sequel to “Ad Vitam,” its 2025 French action thriller starring Guillaume Canet.
The sequel has the working title “Ad Vitam Eternam,” which is Latin for “to eternal life.” Canet is returning as Franck Lazareff, a former operator for the GIGN, the elite tactical unit of the French National Gendarmerie.
“After surviving an assassination attempt upon his release from prison, Franck sets out to find out who wants him dead,” the sequel’s synopsis reads. “He goes to hide away with his family in the mountains. But French intelligence services track him down and offer him a deal: a covert mission in exchange for the truth Franck is seeking.”
The “Ad Vitam” sequel will be directed by Ludovic Colbeau-Justin (“Néro: The Assassin”), replacing the original film’s helmer Rodolphe Lauga. The screenplay was penned by Canet and French novelist Maxime Chattam with the collaboration of David Corona, who co-wrote the first movie’s script.
Alongside Canet, “Ad Vitam Eternam” will star Stéphane Caillard, Nassim Lyes, Zita Hanrot, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Sophie Marceau and Mathieu Amalric. It’s produced by Canet and Jean Cottin for their Cabanes Productions and will shoot in locations around France including Ile-de-France, Normandy, Savoie and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
The first “Ad Vitam” movie was a hit for Netflix France and climbed to No. 9 on the streamer’s most popular non-English film chart. “Ad Vitam Eternam” joins a robust Netflix France slate which includes “Call My Agent: The Movie” on Sept. 10, “Lupin” Season 4 on Oct. 23 and “Quasimodo” starring Vincent Cassel.
