Department Q (known simply as “Q”) will continue its crime drama series with a second season produced by Netflix and starring Matthew Goode as DCI Carl Morck and his band of outcasts, who investigate unresolved murders in Edinburgh, Scotland. Based on the Danish novels by Jussi Adler-Olsen (whose structure was adapted to take place in England), Q debuted on May 29, 2023; season one drew early viewership and, therefore, was confirmed for season two on August 18, 2025.
Dept. Q season 2: Release date rumors
On July 13, 2026, filming will start for Season Two in Edinburgh, Scotland; filming should finish between Mid/late December of 2026 (approximately 5 months of principal photography).
A 2026 premiere is not possible: Due to the post-production (editing, VFX, marketing) aspect of things, expect the premiere sometime in the 2nd half of 2027 or possibly even early 2028.
Before this recent update on filming timelines, many speculated that Season Two could premiere in Mid 2026 or, at worst, late 2026. Given the delays that now appear to be happening in starting production, it doesn’t seem likely these predictions will come true.
This timeline fits within the manufacturing cycle of most other high-end Netflix drama productions.
Dept. Q season 2: Cast details
Returning core cast (confirmed by Netflix and production reports):
- Matthew Goode as DCI Carl Morck — the grumpy, brilliant, emotionally scarred lead detective.
- Alexey Manvelov as Akram Salim — Morck’s sharp-witted Syrian ex-policeman colleague/civilian employee.
- Leah Byrne as Rose (or DC Rose Dickson) — the team member dealing with personal struggles who brings humor and insight.
- Jamie Sives as DCI James Hardy — Morck’s partially paralyzed former partner who supports the team.
Other likely returnees based on Season 1 roles and book adaptations include Chloe Pirrie as Crown solicitor Merritt Lingard (central to Season 1), Kelly Macdonald as Dr. Rachel Irving (Morck’s therapist/love interest), and supporting players like Kate Dickie as Moira Jacobson. No major new cast additions have been officially announced yet, but expect fresh faces for the new case’s suspects and victims as filming approaches.
The ensemble is praised for its chemistry, with the “band of glorious misfits” dynamic highlighted by Netflix and the cast.
Dept. Q season 2: What to Expect Next (Plot and Story)
The first season of the show was based purely on the first novel (Mercy). It detailed Merritt Lingard’s disappearance/kidnapping and eventual rescue, promotions for the team members, and personal story arcs (e.g., Morck’s relationship with his partner and Hardy’s road to recovery).
It’s anticipated that season two will pull much of its material from the second novel (Disgrace) and will likely focus on the following three areas:
1. There will be a new cold case–the brutal double homicide of a brother and sister that occurred at their family’s summer cottage in the late 1980s.
2. There will be a conspiracy surrounding wealthy, privileged boarding school students who grow up to be powerful adults. One of the main characters in this scenario is a woman named Kimmie (or a similar name in the TV series) who has vanished from all of society. She has damaging secrets, and the team must navigate elite social hierarchies, cover-up schemes, and ongoing threats from those trying to keep the info hidden.
3. Continuing development of personal storylines for the characters. (Morck’s complicated relationship with Dr. Rachel Irving (the team’s therapist) has the potential to evolve into something romantic; the continued growth and expansion of the team; and the ongoing issues created by the traumatic shooting in Leith Park that claimed one officer’s life and neared the end of Hardy’s; and Morck’s obsession with gangster Eugene Errington’s involvement in these issues.)
In addition to more of the show’s signature darkly humorous procedural moments, basement HQ chaos, complex mysteries, and character-driven dramatic pieces, creator Scott Frank (of The Queen’s Gambit fame) will return to oversee the show and continue to provide engaging storytelling. There will also likely be multiple cases/subplots as the department continues to grow and evolve.
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