The highly anticipated second season of Kunle Afolayan's acclaimed supernatural series, 'Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens', is set to premiere on January 30, 2026. The official trailer, which dropped on January 19, has sent waves of excitement through the fanbase, promising a deeper and more expansive chapter in the epic saga.
Building on the rich universe established in the 2022 Netflix film and the 2024 series 'Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre', this new season escalates the stakes. The narrative continues to explore the heavy price of power and the dire consequences of meddling with life and death, as hinted by the trailer's ominous tagline: "Once power is awakened, it demands a price."
A Stellar Cast Returns with Powerful New Additions
Season 2 brings back the beloved ensemble that fans have grown to adore. Key returning stars include Sola Sobowale, Kunle Remi, Bimbo Ademoye, Oyindamola Sanni, Aisha Lawal, and Lateef Adedimeji. They are joined by a formidable lineup of new actors set to inject fresh dynamics and conflict into the story.
The new cast members are Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori (Kiekie), Teniola Aladese, Antar Laniyan, Joke Muyiwa, Saidi Balogun, Adeoluwa Okusaga (Saga), and Tayo Faniran. This significant expansion suggests broader storylines involving new alliances, intense rivalries, and the introduction of foreign influences that will challenge the kingdom's foundations.
Expanded Horizons: Filming in Ghana and Bigger Themes
In a major production shift, filming for Season 2 moved beyond Afolayan's iconic Film Village in Igbojaye, Oyo State. The crew ventured to Cape Coast, Ghana, marking a significant transnational collaboration between KAP Motion Pictures and Ghana’s National Film Authority.
This geographical expansion mirrors the series' growing narrative ambition. The story promises to delve into more complex political and cultural interactions, with hints of contact with Western traders and themes touching on the precursors to colonisation and slavery, adding a profound historical layer to the supernatural drama.
What to Expect in 'The Ghoul Awakens'
The title itself, 'The Ghoul Awakens', points to a darker turn. In folklore, a Ghoul is a demonic entity that haunts dreams, feeds on flesh, and deceives people into peril. The trailer suggests these elements will be central, intensifying the clash between cosmic forces of good and evil.
Viewers can anticipate a potent mix of heightened supernatural threats and gripping human drama. The series will continue to follow Saro (the Anikulapo) as he grapples with the power of resurrection granted by the mystical gourd. Expectations for the new season include:
- More intense action, suspense, and morally complex decisions.
- Darker explorations of human desire, revenge, and tested loyalties.
- Unexplained disappearances and supernatural entities haunting the characters.
- Strained personal relationships under the weight of ambition and mystical dangers.
With its January 30 premiere fast approaching, Kunle Afolayan is poised to deliver a season that expands the Anikulapo universe visually, geographically, and thematically. It promises to be a compelling narrative that weighs the cost of immortality against the fragile nature of human ambition and relationships.
