Even before its release on Wednesday, the phenomenon series has already provoked a legal pass of arms, which will undoubtedly only contribute a little more to its success.

The series, called "Au kingdom des fauves" in French, followed the shenanigans and setbacks of "Joe Exotic", an openly gay and colorful zoo owner reigning over a menagerie of felines, wacky employees and whimsical lovers. .

His real name Joe Maldonado-Passage, the "King of the tigers" had been sentenced to 22 years in prison for attempted murder on Carole Baskin, animal rights activist who had become his pet peeve.

Even though the judgment was partially overturned this summer, Joe Exotic remains prosecuted and is still currently in detention.

It is therefore by phone that "Tiger King 2" takes his news.

"There's an innocent man in jail," proclaims the fallen zoo boss with the famous mullet cut in the trailer.

“Everyone in the zoo is out making money and I foot the bill for each of them,” he complains.

The first season, followed by 64 million homes worldwide within four weeks of its release, focused on the intense rivalry between Joe Exotic and Ms. Baskin.

The latter had accused for years the eccentric businessman of mistreating his animals and had sworn to bankrupt her zoo.

"Tiger King 2" has chosen to focus on crazy rumors that Carole Baskin had her husband eaten by tigers and tries to elucidate the disappearance of this husband, in which Ms. Baskin denies any involvement.

She refused to participate in season 2, telling producers to "forget about her" and even took legal action against Netflix, calling season 1 "harsh and unfair".

She also denounced the "pernicious" allusions to the disappearance of her husband.

The lawsuit claims she only agreed to appear in the first season, but a Florida court dismissed Ms Baskin's first interim application and Netflix reportedly counterattacked to defend her right to use in season 2 them. images shot with her.

Other whimsical characters are also making a comeback in season 2, such as Jeffrey and Lauren Lowe, presented as a swinging couple, who took over the zoo from Joe Exotic after his arrest.

But last May, US authorities seized 68 wild animals housed in the zoo who, according to court documents, were not fed, cared for or adequately housed.

In the trailer, Jeffrey Lowe, former partner of Joe Exotic, is delighted that "Tiger King changed our lives overnight. We're richer than God now."

© 2021 AFP