Netflix’s ‘La Palma’ Sequel Series ‘Florida’ Set for Release in 2027
When the Norwegian disaster drama ‘La Palma’ debuted on Netflix in December 2024, it quickly became a global sensation. Created by Martin Sundland, Lars Gudmestad, and Harald Rosenløw Eeg, the four-episode series follows geological researchers and a vacationing Norwegian family racing against an impending volcanic eruption on the Canary Islands. With a budget reportedly among the largest for a Nordic TV production, it offered visual spectacles that rivaled major Hollywood films.
The show’s thrilling premise resonated with audiences worldwide. ‘La Palma’ shattered records for the best debut of an international series released on a Thursday, garnering 13.1 million views within its first four days. Less than a month post-premiere, it had amassed 58 million views, establishing itself as one of Netflix’s most popular non-English language series.
This remarkable success has led to a full sequel commitment. ‘La Palma’ is now confirmed as Netflix’s eighth most-watched non-English series of all time, and the platform is moving forward with a follow-up series titled ‘Florida’, set to premiere in 2027. This marks a significant evolution from its original limited-series format, transforming what began as a standalone disaster drama into a broader franchise.
Early discussions about a continuation suggested that a second chapter would best function as an anthology, introducing new characters in a different location facing a separate yet equally terrifying natural disaster. The title ‘Florida’ aligns with this vision, directing the narrative toward American shores, where the repercussions of the original tsunami could logically unfold.
The series is produced by Fantefilm, known for its “Scandisaster” productions, including ‘La Palma’, directed by Cecilie Mosli (The Snowsister, Grey’s Anatomy), and written by Lars Gudmestad (La Palma, The Burning Sea).
Screenwriter Lars Gudmestad: “To be able to make Florida is a dream I have had for a long time, and I am very pleased that Netflix also believes in the project. Our ambition is to create a spectacular disaster series with characters audiences can mirror themselves in and truly care about, and that’s why it’s so reassuring to have such a talented and experienced director like Cecilie with us on this journey.”
Director Cecilie Mosli: “People confronted with crises are the most fascinating starting point for drama. With La Palma, Lars Gudmestad, Fantefilm and Netflix demonstrated the power of combining large-scale disasters with intimate human stories, and I am very proud and happy to be part of the new project, Florida.”
Håkon Briseid, Director for Series at Netflix Nordic: “Norwegian members – and audiences worldwide – have embraced the “Scandisaster” genre with exceptional enthusiasm, proving there’s a real appetite for smart, character-driven disaster stories. The team behind La Palma is a master of the genre, and Florida raises the stakes, turning up the tension and emotion in a bold new setting. Fans of La Palma will get all the intensity, scale and heart they loved the first time around, while Florida also stands entirely on its own – ready to thrill and delight a whole new wave of Netflix members.”
The finale of ‘La Palma’ indicated that the devastation had already ravaged the Canary Islands and affected West Africa and Southern Europe, with North and South America bracing for impact. A Florida-set sequel would essentially continue from those closing images.
As the main success story of 2024 in the international series category, ‘La Palma’ attracted nearly double the views of the second most-watched new international series of the year, demonstrating that the “exotic destination plus natural disaster” formula is a winning strategy for Netflix subscribers. This formula is clearly something the streamer aims to replicate, and with ‘Florida’, it has both a new setting and a built-in audience eager for more.
The series’ reception has been notably mixed, holding a low score on Rotten Tomatoes despite its massive viewership, suggesting that many viewers tuned in more for the spectacle than the narrative. Whether ‘Florida’ can enhance the character development that faced the most criticism remains an intriguing creative challenge as production begins. The original creative team behind the Norwegian disaster genre has consistently shown a knack for grounded, human-centered chaos, and a U.S. setting would provide them with fresh terrain to explore that tension.
What are your thoughts on ‘La Palma’ expanding into a sequel series, and are you excited to see where ‘Florida’ takes the story in 2027? Share your opinions in the comments below.