Abhiroop Das
Created by Luca Bernabei, ‘Sandokan’ tells the story of the beloved swashbuckling pirate known as Sandokan, who rules over the South China Sea along with his trusted crew of pirates and bandits. However, a clash with pirate hunter James Brooke results in his crushing defeat, leaving him stranded in Labuan. There, he meets Lady Marianna Guillonk, who belongs to the very consulate he steals from. As the duo slowly falls in love, moral and ethical quandaries follow, leading Sandokan on the most thrilling adventure of his life. Based on Emilio Salgari’s eponymous novel series, the first season of this action-adventure show ends with Sandokan reuniting with his tribe and assuming the position of warrior chief.
Skilled in the ways of lands and seas, the Tiger of Malaya takes over the Sultan’s mines, freeing his fellow tribe members before killing the Sultan and making his escape to the hidden island of Mompracem. The creators of the show have confirmed that a season 2 of the show is in development, and is expected to begin filming in Spring of 2026. Thus, chances are that fans will get to experience the sequel to this legendary story as soon as 2027.
Sandokan Season 2 Will Likely Adapt the Rest of the Classic Novel Series
While ‘Sandokan’ reimagines the eponymous adventure series by Italian author Emilio Salgari, a huge chunk of the show is made up of new additions to the classic story. This changes by the final scene, where Sandokan and his crew decide to make the mythical island of Mompracem their new base. This detail directly bridges the show and its print counterpart, ‘The Tigers of Mompracem,’ which is the first entry in the novel series. The fact that the book begins with the tribe nestled within the island makes for a perfect transition between seasons, opening the stage for more of the acclaimed story arcs to be adapted to the screen. However, given the sweeping changes the series makes to the original narrative, it is likely that the creators will continue developing new storylines going forward.
At the end of the first season, both Sandokan and James Brooke are at the height of their political powers, albeit in entirely different spheres. The true dividing factor between the two is Marianna’s choice to be with the former, and it is apparent that Brooke is deeply unsettled by this development. Thus, it is very likely that the next season of the show will feature him as the main antagonist, taking the Sultan’s place both literally and figuratively. While he has been walking a thin gray line so far, Brooke might abandon all sense of morality in his blinding pursuit of Marianna’s affection, which means that Sandokan will have to fight the very man who saved his life at one point. Additionally, the Consul is likely to reinitiate the search for his daughter, meaning that Sandokan’s battle might just grow to be two-fold.
Sandokan Season 2 Teases a Major New Character
The creative producer of the show, Elena Bucaccio, has revealed that season 2 of ‘Sandokan’ will introduce a new character who might serve as a romantic interest for Sandokan, thus foiling his dynamic with Marianna. While not much else is known about this mystery character as of writing, chances are that they will be yet another novel character brought to life, sparking tensions within the story. Apart from this, however, the sequel is expected to retain most of its core cast, with actor Can Yaman returning to essay the eponymous pirate turned Dayak war chief. He will most likely be joined by actors Alanah Bloor and Alessandro Preziosi, who play Marianna Guillonk and Yanez de Gomera, respectively.
With James Brooke emerging as the series’ defining antagonist, there is a high chance that actor Ed Westwick will be stepping into the role once again, but the same cannot be said for Matt McCooey, whose character, Sultan Muda Hashim of Brunei, is deceased by the season finale. Lord Guillonk’s search for his daughter is only going to intensify down the line, which means that actor Owen Teale is likely to reprise his role for the show, alongside Lucy Gaskell, who plays Lady Frances Guillonk.
A major character departure this season is Sani, who served as the bridge between Sandokan, Marianna, and the larger Dayak tribe. With her death, however, actor Madeleine Price has a slim chance of returning to the show, if not as a spiritual presence. Additionally, the show can be expected to widen its scope by introducing new factions, islands, and tribes into the mix. Thus, season 2 might introduce several fresh faces into the cast, in line with the book series’ ever-expanding world and mythology.
Sandokan 2 Might Add a New Love Triangle to Test Sandokan and Marianna’s Relationship
Although ‘Sandokan’ ends with a thumping victory for the Tiger of Malaya and his crew, that is unlikely to be the case for long, both due to practical and dramatic reasons. With more bloodshed and moral dilemmas soon knocking on his door, Sandokan will have to face the possibility of becoming a monster himself. However, his trustworthy allies, be it Marianna, Yanez, and Balau, are there to check him at every point, which makes his end of the conflict more balanced than Brooke’s. While the new Raja of Brunei is free to be with his mother at last, his dissatisfaction is writ large on his face. To that end, we might see him sink deeper into his addiction, compromising both his military capabilities and moral compass.
The arrival of a new potential player in the game also means that Sandokan’s love story is about to be put to the stand once again. While the duo has remained steadfast in their feelings for each other, Marianna has yet to fully become one with Sandokan’s tribal roots. The fact that she is a part of a larger colonial machinery also sets up a power dynamic that needs to be explored in full. Furthermore, there is the unresolved character arc of Yanez, who has only recently started believing in God once again. Despite him being Sandokan’s sworn ally, it is unlikely that he intends to spend the rest of his life fighting for a revolutionary cause. We have seen friction between him and Sandokan develop numerous times, and season 2 might be the stage for a definitive conclusion to that plot thread.
Read More: Sandokan Ending Explained: Does Sandokan Become the Tribe Leader?
