Where does The Next 365 Days fit in the trilogy timeline?

The third and likely final film of the Polish erotic thriller series, 365 Days, is set to launch on August 19, 2022, on Netflix. Titled The Next 365 Days, this 3rd film shall follow in the footsteps of the series opener, 365 Days, and the sequel 365 Days: This Day, which were released globally on June 7, 2020, and April 27, 2022, respectively.

So where exactly does this soon-to-be-launched movie fit in the storyline? Let’s take stock of what has happened so far in the turbulent lives of the lovers in the first two movies and assess what the future might have in store for them. 

Also read: The Next 365 Days: All you need to know

365 Days revolves around Sicilian Mafioso Massimo Torricelli, played by Michele Morrone, and his Polish love interest Laura Biel, played by Anna Maria Sieklucka. Massimo is instantly infatuated by Laura after a chance encounter and promptly kidnaps her. He gives her 365 days to fall in love with him, promising to let her go if she cannot reciprocate his feelings for her, also assuring that he will not touch her against her will during this time. 

What follows is a string of steamy scenes that would put 50 Shades of Grey to shame. Whether it’s in Massimo’s private jet, his fancy yacht, a twin shower, or just a bedroom with the right set of tools to spice things up, Massimo and Laura engage in an explicit and dangerous cat and mouse game. Massimo succeeds in winning Laura over, within just 2 months of the stipulated 365 days, and Laura shares with her best friend that she is pregnant with Massimo’s child. 

Also read: The Next 365 Days: When and where to watch

However, as the love birds prepare for their nuptials, Massimo’s mafia connections threaten to derail everything. Massimo’s rivals in the mafia are in the midst of carrying out a plan to kill Laura just as she’s on the phone with her beau, and the movie ends in a cliffhanger when her phone goes dead as the car she’s being driven in enters a tunnel. 

The sequel starts with the two lovers getting married as Laura survives the assassination attempt, although her unborn child doesn’t. Massimo’s twin brother, Adriano, and his jealous ex, Anna, come to the fore as they hatch a conspiracy to get rid of the two lovers. Once again, there’s plenty of action, mostly between the sheets, but eventually, the story winds up with Laura getting shot at by the jealous ex, while Massimo exacts revenge on his twin Adriano for his deception by shooting him dead, presumably. Laura is seen lying in the arms of a disconsolate Massimo, and this is the point from which the new movie will take us forward. 

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Based on the trailer of The Next 365 Days, we can see that Laura once again has survived the attempt on her life. Part 3 will hopefully take us to the conclusion of this saga as their relationship once again hangs in the balance. There shall be a return of a character from the second movie, belonging to a rival mafia house, who is likely to be the source of plenty of trouble for the couple. The movie synopsis also suggests that the two will have their own internal issues to overcome—with jealousies and trust issues likely to rear their ugly head.