‘Lucifer 3’ Officially Confirmed: Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran Expected to Return; Producer Reveals Why ‘Bro Daddy’ and ‘Drishyam 2’ Went Straight to OTT
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The wait for fans of Malayalam cinema’s biggest franchise is finally over — ‘Lucifer 3’ is officially on the way.
Producer Antony Perumbavoor has confirmed that work on the third instalment of the blockbuster ‘Lucifer’ franchise is progressing. The announcement comes as a major boost for fans who have been eagerly awaiting a sequel to ‘Empuraan.’
According to reports, megastar Mohanlal is expected to reprise his role, with Prithviraj Sukumaran reportedly set to return as director. Murali Gopy, who created the story and wrote the earlier films, is also associated with the project.
Perumbavoor made the revelation during a candid podcast appearance on the Hedge Club YouTube channel.
The film’s journey began in 2019 when the first ‘Lucifer’ arrived and became a massive box-office hit. Mohanlal played the enigmatic Stephen Nedumpally, while Prithviraj Sukumaran directed and Murali Gopy penned the screenplay. The film’s success paved the way for ‘Empuraan,’ which expanded the storyline and introduced a larger, more ambitious world around its central characters.
During the podcast, when asked about the response Malayalam cinema received in overseas markets following ‘Empuraan’, Perumbavoor confirmed that the third film will definitely be made. Plot details remain under wraps, but the producer’s confirmation is expected to build significant anticipation.
In the same interview, Perumbavoor addressed a question that has long puzzled audiences: why were ‘Drishyam 2’ and ‘Bro Daddy’ released directly on streaming platforms instead of theatres?
The producer explained that both films hit OTT during the COVID-19 pandemic, when theatrical releases were not a viable option. He revealed that Aashirvad Cinemas had produced six films during the pandemic — all of them made specifically for digital platforms.
“During the COVID period, Aashirvad produced six films. All of these were films made for OTT. When these films became big successes, people ask why they were not released in theatres. Bro Daddy and Drishyam 2 were not films made for theatrical release. Those films were released at a time when no one was stepping out of their homes. Since they were released on OTT, many people around the world who were not Malayalis also watched the films.”
Interestingly, while ‘Bro Daddy’ and ‘Lucifer’ drew strong audience appreciation, Prithviraj Sukumaran’s third directorial venture ‘Empuraan’ received mixed responses from both critics and general audiences — driven largely by its plot and a perceived lack of emotional connect, despite impressive scale.
With ‘Lucifer 3’ now confirmed, all eyes will be on how the franchise reclaims its footing and whether the Stephen Nedumpally saga gets the grand finale it deserves.
Source attribution note: Information reported by The Times of India, Sep 09, 2026 (etimes.in).
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