Unni Mukundan’s high-octane action thriller Marco, directed by Haneef Adeni, created a major stir upon its release with its dark, gritty portrayal of violence and vengeance. The actor stunned audiences with his transformation into Marco Jr., a cold-blooded gangster who embarks on a brutal killing spree after the murder of his blind foster brother, Victor. The film’s raw violence and stylized action drew both admiration and criticism, even prompting the CBFC to impose cuts and restrictions.
Despite the controversy, Marco defied expectations and soared at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing A-rated Malayalam film in history, with a worldwide gross of ₹104 crore as of January 2025. Released on December 20, 2024, the ₹30 crore film opened to ₹10.8 crore globally and closed its first week at an impressive ₹50 crore.
Following its success, speculation around a sequel gained momentum. However, Unni Mukundan has now confirmed that Marco 2 has been shelved. In response to a fan comment on Instagram asking about the sequel, the actor stated, “Apologies, but I have dropped plans to continue the Marco series. Too much negativity around the project. I’ll try my best to bring something bigger and better.”
He followed up the announcement with a farewell video on Sunday, paying tribute to his character with the caption: “Hasta la vista, Marco. Best A-rated farewell song, dedicated to my most loved A-rated character.”
Marco, a spin-off from the 2019 Malayalam film Mikhael, may have sparked controversy, but it cemented Unni Mukundan’s place as one of Malayalam cinema’s boldest action stars. Though Marco 2 won’t hit the screens, the actor’s promise of returning with something “bigger and better” has fans eagerly watching what comes next.
