The wait is almost over for fans of the Yoruba epic. Celebrated filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has officially broken the silence on the future of the Anikulapo franchise, announcing that the highly anticipated second season will premiere globally on Netflix on January 30, 2026.
Afolayan confirmed the news via a New Year’s announcement on Instagram, ending months of intense speculation following the massive success of the series’ first instalment, Rise of the Spectre.
A Pan-African Production: From Oyo to Ghana
This season marks a significant expansion of the Anikulapo universe. While the core of the story remains rooted in the KAP Film Village in Oyo State, Afolayan has taken the production across borders.
In a strategic partnership with the National Film Authority of Ghana, major portions of Season 2 were filmed in Cape Coast. This move is part of the “Shoot in Ghana” initiative, aimed at fostering cinematic collaboration across the West African sub-region. The production was a massive undertaking, reportedly involving a cast and crew of over 1,200 people during a rigorous 50-day shoot that wrapped up in late 2024.
New Faces in the ‘Spectre’ Universe
While fan favourites like Kunle Remi (Saro), Bimbo Ademoye (Arolake), and Sola Sobowale (Awarun) are expected to return, the director has unveiled an array of new stars joining the fray. The Season 2 cast will feature:
- KieKie (Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori)
- Saga (Adeoluwa Okusaga)
- Saidi Balogun
- Antar Laniyan
- Tayo Faniran
- Teniola Aladese
What to Expect
Following the cliffhanger of the previous season—which saw Saro tasked by the guardians of the afterlife with an “impossible mission”,—the new season is expected to dive deeper into the mystical world of the Akala bird. With the move to Ghana, rumours suggest the storyline may explore coastal folklore and expanded trade routes of the old Oyo Empire, adding a fresh layer of historical depth to the fantasy epic.