‘Lupin’ returns to Netflix: Wildest fan theories so far

Netflix fans who have been waiting three years finally get answers this month. Lupin Netflix returns October 23 with eight new episodes, a four-year time jump, and a copycat thief using deepfakes to commit museum heists while Assane Diop sits in prison. The combination of that long hiatus, a bigger budget, and Omar Sy’s comments about a stronger rival has sparked some of the wildest theories the fandom has ever produced.

Prison cell neighbors

Part 3 ended with Assane locked up next to Hubert Pellegrini. Fans believe the proximity is too convenient to be an accident and expect the two to form an uneasy alliance against a bigger enemy.

Others argue Pellegrini is the copycat himself, using Assane’s name to settle old scores while the real Lupin takes the blame from behind bars.

A third group predicts Pellegrini will hand over crucial files only if Assane helps him escape, turning the season into a prison-break thriller instead of the usual heist caper.

Raoul framed or turned

The four-year time jump means Raoul is now played by Théo Christine and is old enough to drive the plot. Several theories cast him as a suspect in a murder he did not commit, forcing Assane to break out and clear his name.

Another popular thread suggests Raoul has read his father’s old case files and decides to take up the Lupin mantle, creating a father-son conflict over who gets to wear the mask.

Some fans even claim Raoul will betray Assane to protect Claire, mirroring the Cagliostro novel referenced at the end of Part 3 and giving the season a tragic literary twist.

Deepfake copycat identity

The official synopsis confirms someone is committing heists under the Lupin name while Assane is locked away. Viewers are convinced the culprit is using deepfake technology and hacked security feeds to frame the original thief.

One theory pins the scheme on a disgruntled Pellegrini employee who wants revenge after the events of Part 3. Another points to a new character introduced in the trailer footage as a hacker-for-hire who later switches sides.

A smaller but vocal group believes the copycat is actually Assane’s own mother, Mariama, returning as a Countess of Cagliostro-style manipulator who has been pulling strings since the first season.

Eiffel Tower spectacle

Early promotional images place the Eiffel Tower front and center, and fans immediately began mapping out a heist that would close the landmark for a single night. Theories range from a jewel exchange on the observation deck to a full-scale blackout that lets Assane stage his escape.

Some viewers expect the sequence to be the most expensive set piece the show has attempted, matching Omar Sy’s promise of a “bigger and bolder” production.

Others predict the tower stunt is a misdirection and the real target is a different Paris landmark mentioned only in the background of the trailer.

Benjamin’s loyalty tested

Benjamin has been Assane’s trusted forger since the beginning, yet the new season introduces fresh pressure. One theory claims he is blackmailed into forging documents that help the copycat, forcing Assane to decide whether to cut ties.

Another version has Benjamin working undercover for the police, feeding information to Guédira while still helping Assane on the side, a double-agent subplot that would test their long friendship.

A few fans believe Benjamin will die protecting Assane, giving the season an emotional gut-punch before the final episodes resolve the copycat mystery.

Guédira crosses the line

Detective Guédira has always been more fan than cop. With Assane in prison, some viewers expect him to plant evidence or leak files to keep the Lupin legend alive, risking his badge in the process.

Others think he will finally catch Assane in the act only to let him go, creating a moral dilemma that mirrors the show’s ongoing cat-and-mouse game.

A darker thread suggests Guédira becomes the season’s fall guy, framed by the real copycat and forced to rely on Assane for help from inside the system.

Claire’s new life

Four years after the last season, Claire has had time to rebuild. Theories range from her running a legitimate art-restoration business that becomes the copycat’s next target to her secretly funding Assane’s legal defense while keeping Raoul in the dark.

Some fans predict she will enter a new relationship that complicates Assane’s return, adding romantic tension the series has largely avoided.

Others expect Claire to discover she is being watched by Pellegrini’s remaining allies, turning her into an active player rather than a civilian caught in the crossfire.

Senegal family thread

The synopsis mentions Assane wants to visit family in Senegal once he is free. Viewers who remember the brief flashbacks from earlier seasons believe this trip will reveal previously unseen relatives who either help or hinder his plans.

One theory claims these relatives are tied to the original Lupin stories Maurice Leblanc set in North Africa, giving the season a literary callback that expands the universe.

Another suggests the Senegal storyline will force Assane to choose between retiring the Lupin persona for good and protecting his family from the copycat’s reach.

Post-release ending guesses

Early social-media chatter after the first trailer dropped predicts a final twist in which Raoul and Pellegrini team up to locate a hidden treasure referenced in the Cagliostro novel. The payoff would leave Assane on the run once more.

Others expect a more grounded finish where Assane clears his name legally, only to watch the Lupin name live on through the copycat he could not stop.

A smaller contingent believes the season will end on a cliffhanger that sets up a Part 5 already in early development, keeping the fandom guessing for another three years.

Where the theories lead

Lupin Netflix has always thrived on misdirection and literary nods, and the new season’s prison setting plus high-tech copycat premise gives fans more raw material than ever. Whether any of these predictions survive the October 23 drop remains to be seen, but the volume of speculation shows how deeply the show has lodged itself in the cultural conversation.