There’s something uniquely compelling about a filmmaker deciding to revisit their own work nearly two decades later. Lisa Azuelos, the director behind the original LOL (2009), is preparing to do exactly that with LOL 2.0: Anne’s Golden Hour, which is set to release on February 11, 2026. This isn’t just a sequel—it’s a deliberate creative statement about how time changes us, how stories evolve, and what happens when you return to characters and themes with the wisdom of experience.
What makes this project particularly intriguing is the decision to bring Sophie Marceau back into the fold. Marceau was instrumental to the original film’s success, and her return signals that Azuelos isn’t interested in abandoning what worked before. Instead, she’s building on it. The fact that a major European distributor like Ginger & Fed has boarded the project speaks volumes about the confidence the industry has in this venture. This isn’t a cynical cash-grab revival—it’s a production with serious backing and genuine creative intent.
The original LOL was a box office phenomenon, and that success creates both opportunity and pressure. Here’s what we’re anticipating:
- A filmmaker returning to her own story with fresh perspective
- A beloved lead actress reprising her role after years away
- An ensemble cast including Thaïs Alessandrin and the legendary Françoise Fabian, suggesting a multi-generational approach to the narrative
- Multiple production studios (Curiosa Films, Love is in the air, France 2 Cinéma, M6 Films, Apollo Films, uMedia) pooling resources, indicating substantial investment
- A film shot in Paris, grounding it in authentic French cinema culture
What’s genuinely fascinating here is the thematic potential of a “Golden Hour” sequel. The title itself suggests maturity, reflection, and perhaps even twilight—not in a melancholic sense, but in the way golden hour photography captures its most beautiful light. If Azuelos is exploring what happens to her characters as they age, as their perspectives shift, then this becomes something far more meaningful than a nostalgic cash-in.
The real measure of a sequel isn’t whether it matches the original’s commercial success. It’s whether it has something new to say.
Françoise Fabian’s presence in the cast is particularly noteworthy. This is an actress with decades of cinematic credibility, known for bringing depth and authenticity to every role. Her involvement suggests that Azuelos is crafting layered, character-driven material rather than relying solely on Marceau’s star power. The intergenerational dynamic—mixing Marceau’s established presence with Alessandrin’s newer energy and Fabian’s seasoned gravitas—creates the potential for genuinely rich dramatic territory.
The French film industry has a particular strength when it comes to comedies about relationships, aging, and the complexities of human connection. Directors like Claude Lélouch and more recently filmmakers working in that tradition understand that comedy doesn’t have to diminish serious themes. If Azuelos is working in that lineage with LOL 2.0, we might be looking at something that balances humor with real insight about how we change over time.
Currently sitting at a 0.0/10 rating with zero votes—because the film hasn’t released yet—there’s a blank canvas here. This is exactly as it should be. The anticipation building toward the February 2026 release exists in a space of genuine uncertainty and possibility. No one can judge this film yet because it doesn’t exist in the world.
Here’s why that matters creatively:
- Freedom from instant judgment: Azuelos can take risks without the internet’s immediate verdict crushing the film’s reception
- Genuine surprise: Audiences will encounter the film without pre-formed opinions about whether it “lives up” to the original
- Breathing room for complexity: Comedies especially benefit from audiences discovering them organically rather than through early discourse
- Cultural conversation potential: When it does arrive, there will be real room for substantive discussion about what the film is actually saying
The fact that major festival circuits and industry players are already aware of this production—we know it’s been positioned at events like Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris—suggests serious positioning for awards consideration and international distribution. This isn’t being treated as a minor sequel to a 2009 hit. It’s being treated as a significant French production from an established auteur.
Lisa Azuelos has proven herself capable of making films that resonate emotionally while maintaining comedic lightness. With this project, she’s inherited the goodwill of the original while having the opportunity to deepen and complicate her original vision. That’s rare. Most filmmakers don’t get to revisit their own work on this scale.
As we move toward the February 2026 release, the real question isn’t whether LOL 2.0: Anne’s Golden Hour will match the commercial success of its predecessor. It’s whether Azuelos will use this opportunity to say something meaningful about time, change, and the people we become. The cast, the crew, the production backing—everything suggests she intends to try. That’s worth paying attention to.
