12/08/2026 - Ludovic Colbeau-Justin takes over directing duties on the follow-up to the 2025 French action-thriller, with Sophie Marceau and Mathieu Amalric among the new additions to the cast

Netflix has begun principal photography on Ad Vitam Eternam (working title), the sequel to the French action-thriller Ad Vitam, with Guillaume Canet returning as former elite agent Franck Lazareff. Ludovic Colbeau-Justin (Néro: The Assassin, The Lion, DoP on How to Make a Killing) directs the follow-up, taking over from Rodolphe Lauga, who helmed the first film.

The sequel picks up after the events of Ad Vitam, in which Franck was released from prison after uncovering a conspiracy involving the kidnapping of his pregnant wife. According to the official synopsis, after surviving an assassination attempt upon his release, Franck sets out to find out who wants him dead. He goes into hiding 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.

Canet (The Flood, director of Tell No One and Karma) reprises his role as Franck, alongside returning cast members Stéphane Caillard (Get In), Nassim Lyes (Sixteen) and Zita Hanrot (Fatima). The new additions include Nicolas Duvauchelle (Lost Bullet), Sophie Marceau (A Woman, The World Is Not Enough) and Mathieu Amalric (Quantum of Solace).

The screenplay has been written by Canet and French novelist Maxime Chattam, with the collaboration of David Corona, who also co-wrote the first Ad Vitam. The original film was released on Netflix on 10 January 2025 and followed Franck, a former elite agent dismissed from his position following a tragic accident, who is drawn into a conspiracy after masked men abduct his pregnant wife. Forced to rely on his former skills, he sets out to rescue her while uncovering the forces behind the kidnapping.

Ad Vitam proved to be a major international streaming success for Netflix. The movie reportedly generated 54 million views during its first month on the platform and subsequently entered Netflix’s top ten most popular non-English films of all time, globally. According to Netflix's viewing data, it accumulated 63.1 million views and 103 million hours viewed, making it one of the platform's most successful French-language productions.

Produced by Guillaume Canet and Jean Cottin for their Paris-based Cabanes Productions, Ad Vitam Eternam will shoot in several French regions, including Île-de-France, Normandy, Savoie and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. No release date has yet been announced.