Renowned Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has officially ended the long wait for fans by announcing the premiere date for the second season of his acclaimed series, 'Anikulapo'. The epic drama is set to return to Netflix on January 30, 2026.
Official Announcement and Production Details
Afolayan made the exciting revelation through a post on his official Instagram account on January 4, 2026. Sharing a captivating still from the first season, he directly engaged his audience with the caption: "Anikulapo series season 2 coming on 30 January on @naijaonnetflix. Are you ready?"
This announcement follows several key production updates shared by the director over the preceding months. In July 2024, Afolayan disclosed that the new season was filmed in Ghana through a partnership with the country's National Film Authority. Later, in October 2024, he unveiled a slate of new cast members set to join the saga.
New Faces Joining the Epic Cast
The ensemble for the upcoming season has been significantly expanded with fresh talent. The new additions include:
- Former BBNaija housemate Okusaga Adeoluwa
- Popular content creator and actress Kiekie
- Veteran actors Antar Laniyan and Saidi Balogun
- Actresses Teniola Aladese and Oyinbo Ibile
- Actor Nico Claudio
The series' first installment, titled 'Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre', debuted as a six-part series on Netflix on March 1, 2024. It quickly became a major talking point and a favorite among lovers of Nigerian cinema, setting high expectations for its continuation.
Global Fan Reactions and Diaspora Pleas
The announcement triggered an immediate and passionate wave of reactions from fans across social media. While excitement was universal, a prominent theme emerged from Nigerians living abroad, who flooded the comment section with pleas for global availability.
Fans from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries urgently requested that the series be made accessible on Netflix platforms outside Nigeria at the same time as its domestic release. Comments reflected a strong desire to participate in the cultural moment simultaneously with viewers back home, highlighting the series' significant impact and the global reach of Nollywood content.
This overwhelming response underscores the international demand for premium Nigerian storytelling and the importance of simultaneous global releases for major productions.
Context and a Separate Family Controversy
The news of the 'Anikulapo' release date comes amid unrelated public attention on the Afolayan family. Kunle Afolayan's younger brother, actor Aremu Afolayan, recently faced significant public backlash. This followed a viral video from a celebrity birthday event that showed him making an inappropriate physical gesture toward fellow actress Bimbo Thomas.
That incident, which involved other Nollywood figures like Laide Bakare and Wunmi Toriola, sparked a separate conversation about conduct within the industry, but is unrelated to the forthcoming season of Kunle Afolayan's cinematic project.
All attention is now firmly fixed on January 30, 2026, as fans globally mark their calendars for the next chapter in the 'Anikulapo' saga, eagerly awaiting to see how the story unfolds on the world's largest streaming platform.
