The most successful independent film in the U.S. this year is getting a sequel.

47 Meters Down, the Mandy Moore and Claire Holt-starring shark thriller that took an unexpected $44 million bite out of the domestic box office this summer (and more than $53 million globally), is to be followed up with 48 Meters Down.

Johannes Roberts is set to return to write and direct the film, based on a script he co-wrote with his collaborator on 47 Meters Down, Ernest Riera. Rising U.K. banner Fyzz Facility is again producing and financing the project, which this time will move the deadly shark action from Mexico to Brazil and follow a group of girls looking for adventure in the coastal metropolis of Recife. Hoping to get off the well-worn tourist trail, they hear about some hidden underwater ruins only to find that the turquoise waves of their secret Atlantis aren’t completely uninhabited.

Altitude Film Sales, who looked after sales for 47 Meters Down, are repping sales for 48 Meters Down and will introduce the film to buyers in Toronto.

“We are so pleased by the huge success of 47 Meters Down, it totally exceeded all expectations, said James Harris of The Fyzz Facility. “48 Meters Down will take the claustrophobia of cave diving and the thrill of shark encounters and move everything to the next level.”

Added Altitude’s Mike Runagall: “47 Meters Down has captured the imagination of audiences worldwide and we’re thrilled to be re-teaming with the filmmakers and our friends at The Fyzz for the sequel, which will ratchet up the thrills and spills to a whole new level.”

48 Meters Down adds to a bustling slate for Fyzz, which recently announced rom-com Destination Wedding, reuniting Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves. Other films include the action thrillers Three Seconds, starring Rosamund Pike, Joel Kinnaman and Clive Owen, and Final Score, starring Dave Bautista and Pierce Brosnan, plus Matthew Holness’ darkly twisted debut feature Possum, starring Sean Harris.

Nia Long and Corinne Foxx — the daughter of Jamie Foxx, making her feature film debut — are starring in 47 Meters Down - Uncaged, the sequel to the Mandy Moore- and Claire Holt-starring shark thriller.

Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures has scheduled a June 28, 2019 wide release domestically, with Johannes Roberts earlier announced to return to write and direct. U.K. banner Fyzz Facility is also producing and financing the project, which as a sequel will move the deadly shark action from Mexico to Brazil and follow a group of girls looking for adventure in the coastal metropolis of Recife.

Hoping to get off the well worn tourist trail, they hear about some hidden underwater ruins, only to find that the turquoise waves of their secret Atlantis aren’t completely uninhabited. The original 47 Meters Down thriller grossed over $58 million worldwide.

The sequel, which started production this week in the Dominican Republic, also stars John Corbett, Sophie Nelisse, Sistine Stallone, Brianne Tju, Davi Santos and Khylin Rhambo. 47 Meters Down - Uncaged is also set to shoot in the UK.

Roberts is directing from a script he co-wrote with his 47 Meters Down co-writer Ernest Riera. James Harris, Mark Lane and Robert Jones of The Fyzz are producing, with Byron Allen, Carolyn Folks and Jennifer Lucas executive producing.

"The sequel 47 Meters Down - Uncaged is well positioned to be a big summer event movie,” said Byron Allen, founder and chairman/CEO of Entertainment Studios, in a statement.

Johannes Roberts is back in the director’s chair for the sequel to 2017’s surprise hit shark attack flick, with 47 Meters Down: Uncaged swimming into theaters on August 16, 2019.

Brec Bassinger stars with John Corbett (“Sex in the City”), Nia Long (“Empire”), Sophie Nelisse (The Book Thief), Corinne Foxx, Sistine Stallone, Brianne Tju (“Scream” TV series), Davi Santos (Polaroid) and Khylin Rhambo (“Teen Wolf”) in the sequel.

The film will tell the story of four teens diving in a ruined underwater city, who quickly find themselves in a watery hell as their adventure turns to horror when they learn they are not alone in the submerged caves. As they swim deeper into the claustrophobic labyrinth of caves they enter the territory of the deadliest shark species in the ocean.