Netflix is moving ahead with follow-ups to two of its recent releases, but the decision has raised questions among some viewers. Siddharth P Malhotra has confirmed that Ikka 2 and Shaque Season 2 are currently being worked on.
Siddharth said both Ikka and Shaque had broken records and revealed that work on their follow-ups was already underway. Ikka 2 will continue the franchise following the Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna starrer, while Shaque will take a different route.
Shaque Season 2 will feature an entirely new story instead of continuing Parineeti Chopra’s original narrative. Siddharth also expressed happiness over the response to the first season and highlighted its performance on Netflix after its release.
According to Siddharth, Shaque remained at number one after a week and entered the top 10 in around 20 to 30 countries. He also said he received an unusually high number of calls from viewers who told him they had binged and enjoyed the series.
However, the decision to develop both follow-ups has also generated criticism on social media. Some viewers who were disappointed with Ikka and Shaque have questioned why the titles are getting another instalment despite the criticism they received.
Siddharth also defended the continued audience interest in Shaque. He suggested that if viewers continue watching the series despite knowing its climax, it would reflect positively on the work done by the writing team.
At the same time, both Ikka and Shaque received mixed reactions from sections of the audience. Their stories and performances became subjects of criticism online, with some viewers also questioning Netflix’s decision to back such content.
However, online criticism alone does not establish that either title was a commercial failure for Netflix. Streaming platforms consider several factors, including viewership, completion rates and audience reach, when deciding whether to continue a film franchise or series.
With Ikka 2 and Shaque Season 2 now being developed, Netflix and the makers appear confident about continuing both properties. Whether the next instalments can address the criticism and attract a stronger audience response remains to be seen.
