After a cinematic premiere in Poland and a more limited run in the United Kingdom, “365 Days,” also known as “365 Dni” and less formally as “the Polish ‘Fifty Shades of Grey,'” sparked some controversy when it was released on Netflix in June. The film was described as a modern-day “Beauty and the Beast” by cinematographer Bartek Cierlica (via Variety), and it quickly became a fixture on Netflix’s Top 10 lists in more than 90 countries (via Deadline). It was based on a book by Blanka Lipiska, who also directed the film and claims the story is 85 percent “real.”
Critics, on the other hand, were harsh on this film. If you can believe it, the story of a Sicilian mafia member holding a woman captive for a year and giving her a year to fall in love with him has a 0% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. It has a 29 percent Audience Score. “Thoroughly horrible,” “laughably offensive,” and “an exercise in cinematic self-flagellation,” according to the site’s reviewers. Others have quickly pointed out the film’s harmful undertones of Stockholm Syndrome romanticization and rape culture.
Nonetheless, the film has an appealing steaminess to it that stems from the chemistry (and all the BDSM sex) between its leads. And because it did so well on Netflix, a Part 2 and a Part 3 are already in the works. Here’s all we know so far about the “365 Days” sequels.
Does 365 Days Part 2 have a release date?
While no exact release date has been set, a sequel for the love drama “365 Days” has been suggested since the film’s premiere on Netflix in June 2020, when star Michele Morrone disclosed the news in a personalized fan video for HalaHi, the Middle Eastern counterpart of Cameo (via TMZ). In February, writer Blanka Lipiska gave Oprah Daily a sneak peek at the film’s sequel. However, the films are now produced under Netflix’s Originals banner, which is a welcome shift.
According to Newsweek, filming on a sequel was supposed to start in August 2020 in Sicily, but was put back owing to COVID-19 constraints (via Oprah Daily).
According to Deadline, filming for both sequels is expected to begin in May 2021, with both sequels shooting simultaneously.
The manufacture would begin in Poland before moving to Italy. Then, on June 29, 2021, various reports surfaced on the internet announcing that production would begin in earnest in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland (via What’s on Netflix).
Previously, the picture would have been expected to play in theaters before being released on Netflix, but Netflix has effectively taken out the middleman. As a result, the sequels’ scheduled release date of 2022 will almost certainly be a worldwide Netflix exclusive.
Who’s in the cast of 365 Days Part 2?
We know that the male lead is returning to the “365 Days” fold, as Michele Morrone confirmed early on. Morrone plays Massimo, a criminal with a mansion where he keeps his love interest imprisoned. Laura, the object of Massimo’s amorous passion, will be played by Anna-Maria Sieklucka, who will also reprise her female lead role. Magdalena Lamparska will reprise her role as Laura’s friend Olga. Other members of the supporting cast are anticipated to return for the sequel.
In Part 2, Italian actor Simone Susinna will portray a new key character. In an unusual twist, his presence forms a love triangle that dominates the second film. Blanka Lipiska, who also co-wrote the first film, is working behind the scenes on this one. Part 2 will be directed by Barbara Biaows and Tomasz Mandes, who directed the previous film (via Deadline).
What is the plot of 365 Days Part 2?
The cliffhanger at the end of “365 Days” isn’t much of a cliffhanger when you consider that there are two more books in the series on which the film is based, thus Laura is clearly alive. Massimo and Laura resume their relationship in the second book. They marry after he learns of her pregnancy, but a huge stumbling block arises when Marcelo “Nacho” Matos (Susinna) pulls a Massimo and kidnaps Laura. (Please don’t do this!) As a result, she falls for Nacho as well. Voilà! There’s an instant love triangle. Laura and the baby’s lives are in jeopardy, and there’s also the matter of Massimo’s evil double.
To be honest, it sounds like it’ll be as as bad as the first film, if not worse — but the “hot” element is what keeps fans coming back, and there’ll be more of the same in Part 3.
According to Deadline, some of the troublesome ideas from the first film may be softened with a more cautious approach due to Netflix’s control. If that’s the case, fans will have to wait until next year to find out.
