Anikulapo Season Two expands as Kunle Afolayan unveils new cast members ahead of the Netflix release on January 30

Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has unveiled fresh details about Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens, the second season of his epic historical fantasy series, announcing new cast additions ahead of its Netflix premiere scheduled for January 30.

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Afolayan disclosed that Portuguese actor Pedro Teixeira and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, have joined the production.

The announcement was made via the director’s Instagram page alongside the release of the official trailer.

The development marks Dabiri-Erewa’s acting debut, while Teixeira brings international credentials to the project, having appeared in productions such as Festa é Festa, Irregular and Destinos Cruzados.

Details of their respective roles were not disclosed as of press time.

The two are among a strong lineup of newly introduced cast members that includes Bukunmi “KieKie” Adeaga-Ilori, Teniola Aladese, Antar Laniyan, Joke Muyiwa, Saidi Balogun, Adeoluwa “Saga” Okusaga and Tayo Faniran.

Several key actors also return to the franchise, reinforcing continuity within the Anikulapo universe.

Returning cast members include Sola Sobowale as Awarun, Bimbo Ademoye as Arolake, Owobo Ogunde as Bashorun, Taiwo Hassan as Alaafin Ademuyiwa, as well as Gabriel Afolayan, Lateef Adedimeji, Ronke Oshodi-Oke, Moji Afolayan, Aisha Lawal, Adebayo Salami, Jide Kosoko and Eyiyemi Afolayan.

Afolayan said Anikulapo Season Two was filmed at the KAP Film Village and Resort in Oyo State, Nigeria, and on location in Cape Coast, Ghana.

He described the new season as a powerful expansion of the story’s emotional and political tension, unfolding across both local and foreign landscapes.

According to the filmmaker, the series delves deeper into the cost of power, testing love and loyalty as characters struggle to survive in an unforgiving world.

He said the narrative challenges traditional assumptions about authority, presenting survival itself as the ultimate expression of power.

The Anikulapo franchise began with the original film, which premiered on Netflix in September 2022, followed by the first series, Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, released in March 2024.

The story follows Saro, a traveller who returns from the dead with a mystical amulet that grants resurrection powers.

His forbidden romance with Arolake and his defiance of destiny ignite a chain of betrayal, revenge and political intrigue within the 17th-century Oyo Empire.

In Rise of the Spectre, Saro confronts the consequences of his actions, facing new adversaries including Bashorun, while grappling with the burden of those he revived and his enduring bond with death.

Afolayan also acknowledged the support of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, crediting the administration’s backing as instrumental to the project’s success.

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With an expanded cast, international collaboration and deeper thematic exploration, Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens is positioned to deliver a gripping continuation of the saga when it debuts on Netflix later this month.