Iyanu and her band of misfits are coming back for more adventures.
Cartoon Network and HBO Max have officially renewed “Iyanu,” the animated fantasy series based on Roye Okupe’s Nigerian graphic novel, for Season 2. Two feature spin-offs set in the same universe are also confirmed, Variety can exclusively announce.
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Season 2 will return with ten episodes in 2026 as Iyanu continues to harness her powers. The official synopsis teases that Iyanu “finds herself in the midst of a fierce conflict between Elu and the People of the Deep, led by a new formidable opponent. With various factions of Yorubaland vying for powerful divine artifacts that have reemerged, Iyanu strives to find a way to end the war and restore peace.”
According to sources with knowledge of the performance data, “Iyanu” ranks as the No. 1 series among kids 2-12 on Cartoon Network and is a top 10 kids & family series on HBO Max. The series has been watched by more than 525,000 viewers to date.
“We’re incredibly inspired by the response to ‘Iyanu’ and the connection it has made with audiences,” Lion Forge Entertainment’s CEO David Steward II said in a statement. “The opportunity to expand this world with a second season and two feature films is a testament to the power of meaningful storytelling and innovative creative collaboration. We’re grateful for the continued support of our partners at Cartoon Network and Max, and it’s been a lot of fun working with Roye to bring Iyanu to life and build the franchise.”
Executive producers include Steward II, Stephanie Sperber, Kirsten Newlands and Matt Heath from Lion Forge Entertainment, Erica Dupuis from Impact X Capital, Ryan Haidarian from Forefront Media Group and Doug Schwalbe from Superprod. Series creator and showrunner Okupe also produces.
The first film set in the “Iyanu” universe, titled “The Age of Wonders,” will be released later this year and is a prequel set 500 years before the rise of Iyanu. The second feature film is currently in production and will release 2026.
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