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Guillaume Canet Returns: Netflix Locks In ‘Ad Vitam’ Sequel
Netflix Starts Filming "Ad Vitam" Sequel: Everything You Need to Know About Ad Vitam Eternam
The Big News: Cameras Are Rolling!
Netflix just announced that filming has officially begun on the sequel to the hit 2025 French action thriller Ad Vitam. The new movie carries the working title Ad Vitam Eternam (which is Latin for "For Life Eternal" — fancy, right?).
If you missed the first one, don’t worry! We’ll catch you up in plain English below.
Quick Recap: What Happened in the First Ad Vitam?
Think of the first movie like a high-stakes game of tag mixed with a spy novel. Here’s the ELI5 version:
- The Hero: Franck Lazareff (played by Guillaume Canet) is a former elite secret agent. He’s basically a French Jason Bourne.
- The Inciting Incident: Masked bad guys kidnap Franck’s pregnant wife.
- The Mission: Franck goes rogue to save her, uncovering a massive, deadly conspiracy along the way.
- The Cliffhanger Ending: Franck gets thrown in jail on fake charges. But in the final scene, his wife shows up with the receipts (evidence) proving he was set up. He walks out a free man.
Important Callout: You don’t have to have seen the first film to understand the sequel, but it helps! The new movie picks up literally seconds after the first one ends.
The New Plot: What Is Ad Vitam Eternam About?
Franck thinks he’s safe. He’s wrong. Here is the official setup, translated from "Hollywood Speak" to "Normal Human":
- Assassination Attempt: The moment Franck leaves prison, someone tries to kill him. Rude.
- Hide & Seek: He grabs his family and flees to the mountains to lay low.
- The Offer: French Intelligence (the "good guy" spies) track him down. They don’t want to arrest him; they want to make a deal.
- The Deal: "Do one secret, dangerous mission for us, and we’ll tell you exactly who put a target on your back."
It’s a classic "one last job" scenario, but with higher stakes because his family is in the crosshairs.
Meet the Cast: Old Faces & Big New Stars
Returning Favorites (The "Band Getting Back Together")
- Guillaume Canet as Franck Lazareff (Our hero)
- Stéphane Caillard (Likely Franck’s wife, Léo)
- Nassim Lyes
- Zita Hanrot
Exciting New Additions (Heavy Hitters!)
The sequel adds three massive names in French cinema:
- Nicolas Duvauchelle (The Beat That My Heart Skipped)
- Sophie Marceau (Braveheart, The World Is Not Enough — *Yes, that Sophie Marceau!)
- Mathieu Amalric (James Bond: Quantum of Solace, The Grand Budapest Hotel)
Important Callout: Adding Sophie Marceau and Mathieu Amalric signals this sequel has a bigger budget and higher ambitions than the first film.
Behind the Camera: New Director, Same Writer
| Role | First Movie (Ad Vitam) | Sequel (Ad Vitam Eternam) |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Rodolphe Lauga | Ludovic Colbeau-Justin |
| Lead Writer | Guillaume Canet | Guillaume Canet (co-written with Maxime Chattam & David Corona) |
Who is the new director?
Ludovic Colbeau-Justin just had a huge box office hit with a comedy called How To Make A Killing (starring Franck Dubosc). Switching from comedy to gritty action is a bold move — think of it like a chef known for baking perfect cakes suddenly entering a BBQ competition. It could bring a fresh, energetic pace to the action scenes!
Where Is It Filming? (Scenic France Tour)
The production is taking a road trip across France. Expect gorgeous backdrops in:
- Île-de-France (Paris region / City vibes)
- Normandy (Coastal cliffs, moody beaches)
- Savoie (The Mountains — where Franck hides with his family)
- Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (Sunny South of France / Riviera glamour)
Why Is Netflix Betting Big on This?
Numbers don’t lie.
The first Ad Vitam dropped on January 10, 2025. In its first month alone, it racked up:
54 MILLION VIEWS
That shot it straight into the Netflix Top 10 All-Time List for Non-English Films.
Translation: People loved it. A sequel wasn’t a question of "if," but "when."
Summary: The Cheat Sheet
- What: Ad Vitam Eternam (Sequel to Ad Vitam)
- Who: Guillaume Canet returns as ex-agent Franck Lazareff.
- Plot: Just freed from jail → Shot at → Hides in mountains → Spy agency offers "Mission for Truth" deal.
- New Director: Ludovic Colbeau-Justin (Comedy hitmaker turned action director).
- Star Power Added: Sophie Marceau & Mathieu Amalric join the cast.
- Filming Now: Across 4 stunning French regions.
- Why: First film was a massive global hit (54M views in 30 days).
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
1. Do I need to watch the first Ad Vitam before this comes out?
Short answer: Yes, highly recommended.
Long answer: The sequel picks up immediately after the first movie ends. You’ll understand the emotional stakes (why he cares about his wife/kid) and the conspiracy backstory much better if you watch Part 1 first. It’s on Netflix right now!
2. When will Ad Vitam Eternam be released?
No official date yet. Since they just started principal photography (main filming), expect it roughly 12–18 months from now — likely late 2026 or early 2027.
3. Is this in English or French?
French. It is a French production. However, Netflix will provide high-quality English dubbing and subtitles (just like the first one).
4. Why did they change directors?
Rodolphe Lauga directed the first one. Sometimes directors move on to other projects, or the studio wants a different "flavor" for the sequel. The new director, Ludovic Colbeau-Justin, just proved he can handle big commercial hits, so Netflix likely trusts him to make the action bigger and better.
5. Is Sophie Marceau playing a villain or a hero?
We don’t know yet! Her role is being kept secret. Given her history (she played a Bond villain in The World Is Not Enough), she could be the ultimate puppet master, a reluctant ally, or Franck’s mysterious past connection. We’ll have to wait for a trailer!
Stay tuned for first-look photos and teaser trailers as filming progresses through the French countryside!
