Bollywood's $140M+ Horror Franchise Unveils MCU-Style Release Dates For 8 Sequels & Spinoffs

The Maddock Supernatural Universe will have a huge expansion. The Bollywood horror-comedy franchise kicked off in 2018 with Stree (about a man in the town of Chanderi who fears his new love may be a vengeful supernatural entity), followed by 2022's Bhediya (about a man who becomes a werewolf), and 2024's Munjya (about a marriage-seeking evil spirit) and 2024's Stree 2 (which sees Chanderi attacked by the headless Sarkata). Collectively, the four Bollywood movies have already grossed more than $140 million at the global box office, with Stree 2 smashing records as the sixth highest-grossing Bollywood movie of all time.

Per Variety, Maddock Films has announced that eight new sequels and spinoffs in the franchise are set to premiere between 2025 and 2028. The Marvel Cinematic Universe-style slate, some of which have previously been announced to be in development, includes new original stories as well as sequels such as Bhediya 2 in 2026 and Stree 3 in 2027. This will all kick off with the new Ayushmann Khurrana vampire movie Thama and is set to close out with the Avengers-style two-part crossover Mahayudh. See the full schedule of movies below:

Maddock Films chief Dinesh Vijan gushed about the franchise's ability to tell stories that are "grounded in India’s rich culture and heritage" while also connecting with worldwide audiences, in addition to teasing the fact that "we are just getting started." Read Vijan's full quote below:

Our mission at Maddock has always been to innovate and entertain. We’ve crafted compelling characters that resonate with audiences, grounded in India’s rich culture and heritage. This deep connection has made our stories not just relatable, but also meaningful. Also, with a passionate and devoted fanbase, we’re now setting the stage for something even bigger: a cinematic universe that brings unforgettable characters and their stories to life like never before. We can’t wait to take audiences on this journey through 2028 and beyond – and we are just getting started.

What This Means For The Maddock Supernatural Universe

It Is One Of India's Best MCU-Style Prospects

The Maddock Supernatural Universe is taking after the MCU in a variety of ways, including the schedule for the Indian horror movies being announced far in advance and major character crossovers being set for the end of a run of movies similar to one of the MCU's "phases." However, another way that the growing franchise is imitating the record-smashing superhero universe is by bringing in big stars to lead upcoming movies. In addition to Ayushmann Khurrana leading Thama, in December, Pinkvilla reported that RRR and Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva star Alia Bhatt was in talks for 2026's Chamunda.

There have already been attempts by Indian cinema to recreate the international success of the MCU, including the Brahmāstra trilogy. However, the upcoming Brahmāstra: Part Two – Dev has taken some time to come to the screen and isn't set to premiere until 2026, four years after the original movie. The Maddock Supernatural Universe has taken much less time to come together after the success of Stree 2, and its slate that combines new stories, sequels, and crossovers evokes the feeling of a modern IP universe much more.

Our Take On The Upcoming Maddock Supernatural Universe Movies

Their Success Is Not Guaranteed

Ultimately, it remains to be seen if the entire Maddock Supernatural Universe can replicate the success of Stree 2 without oversaturating the marketplace. While Munjya was also a hit, earning ₹132.13 crore against its ₹30 crore budget, only Stree 2 was a Marvel-style runaway success. While that movie earned ₹874.58 crore at the worldwide box office, Bhediya only earned ₹90 crore, barely earning back its ₹60 crore budget. With such inconsistent box office results, the franchise will likely have to rely on audience goodwill for the Stree subfranchise and hope that a rising tide lifts all ships.

Source: Variety & Pinkvilla