Mohanlal Set to Collaborate with Dileesh Pothan on Lucifer 3 Project A long-awaited collaboration between Malayalam superstar Mohanlal and acclaimed filmmaker Dileesh Pothan has been officially confirmed, ending years of speculation. The announcement came through Antony Perumbavoor, Mohanlal’s frequent collaborator and producer, who revealed on social media that the duo will work together on a new project. The film, produced by Shibu Baby John, will be directed by Dileesh Pothan, marking a significant milestone in both their careers. Perumbavoor also confirmed that the third installment of the Lucifer franchise, titled Azrael, is in the works, aiming to revive the franchise’s box office success. The Lucifer series, which began with the 2019 film Lucifer directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, became a landmark release in Malayalam cinema. The film, written by Murali Gopy and produced under Antony Perumbavoor’s Aashirvad Cinemas, grossed Rs 127.5 crore globally, far exceeding its Rs 25 crore budget. Its success paved the way for a sequel, L2: Empuraan (2025), which became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time, earning Rs 266.81 crore worldwide. However, the sequel faced mixed critical reception and sparked controversy due to its handling of sensitive political themes, which drew backlash from right-wing groups. Despite these challenges, Antony Perumbavoor emphasized that a third film is inevitable, stating that the franchise requires a “massive entertainer” to reinvigorate the box office. Dileesh Pothan, known for his critically acclaimed directorial debut Maheshinte Prathikaram (2016), has long expressed his desire to work with Mohanlal and Mammootty. In a 2023 interview with SCREEN, he mentioned ongoing discussions with Mammootty, though no concrete script or project has been finalized.#mohanlal #dileesh_pothan #antony_perumbavoor #shibu_baby_john #lucifer
