Netflix’s Tsunami Hit ‘La Palma’ Is Getting a Sequel Series Called ‘Florida’ — and It’s Coming in 2027

When the Norwegian disaster drama ‘La Palma’ landed on Netflix in December 2024, few could have predicted just how much of a global event it would become. Created by Martin Sundland, Lars Gudmestad, and Harald Rosenløw Eeg, the four-episode series follows geological researchers and a vacationing Norwegian family as they race against an imminent volcanic eruption on the Canary Islands. With a budget reportedly among the largest for a Nordic TV production, it delivered visual spectacle that rivalled big-budget Hollywood productions.

The show’s appetite for destruction clearly resonated with audiences on a massive scale. The Norwegian disaster miniseries shattered the record for the best debut of an international series released on a Thursday, pulling in 13.1 million views in its first four days alone. Less than a month after its premiere, the series had been viewed 58 million times, making it one of Netflix’s most popular non-English language series ever.

That extraordinary performance has now translated into a full sequel commitment. ‘La Palma’ has officially been confirmed as Netflix’s eighth most-watched non-English series of all time, and the streamer is moving forward with a follow-up series titled ‘Florida’, set to arrive in 2027. The news marks a significant shift from the limited-series label the show originally launched under, and confirms that what began as a one-off disaster drama is now becoming a broader franchise.

Early speculation about a continuation suggested that a second chapter would work best as an anthology, following new characters in a different location dealing with a separate but equally terrifying natural disaster theory. The title ‘Florida’ fits neatly into that vision, pointing the story toward American shores, where the consequences of the original tsunami could logically land next.

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’ made clear that the devastation had already decimated the Canary Islands and damaged West Africa and Southern Europe, with North and South America left bracing for impact. A Florida-set follow-up would essentially pick up where those closing images left off.

The main success story of 2024 on the international series side, ‘La Palma’ garnered nearly double the views of the second most-watched new international series of the year, proving that the “exotic destination plus natural disaster” formula is a winning one for Netflix subscribers. That formula is clearly something the streamer wants to repeat, and with ‘Florida’ it has both a new setting and a built-in audience already primed for more.

The series’ reception has been notably divisive, sitting at a rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes despite its enormous viewership, suggesting that many fans tuned in more for the spectacle than the storytelling. Whether ‘Florida’ can sharpen the character work that drew the most criticism remains one of the more interesting creative questions heading into its production. The original creative team behind the Norwegian disaster genre has long demonstrated a capacity for grounded, human-centered chaos, and a U.S. setting would give them fresh terrain to explore that tension.

What do you think about ‘La Palma’ expanding into a sequel series, and are you excited to see where ‘Florida’ takes the story in 2027? Share your thoughts in the comments below.