Netflix’s gritty Scottish crime thriller Dept. Q is officially locked to return for a sophomore run. Developed by Scott Frank and Chandni Lakhani, the English-language adaptation of Jussi Adler-Olsen’s acclaimed Danish novels became an instant global hit, spending six weeks in the streaming platform’s global top ten charts. Following its swift renewal by network executives, the Edinburgh-based cold case unit is preparing to dive into a brand-new, multi-layered mystery.
Dept. Q Season 2 Filming Updates
Netflix officially greenlit the second season following the immense viewership metrics of the debut run, keeping showrunner Scott Frank at the helm to direct the upcoming block. While initial industry tracking pointed to a spring start, official production updates have confirmed a slight shift in the calendar.
Principal photography for Season 2 is now officially scheduled to commence on July 13, 2026. Production will return to its signature location in Edinburgh, Scotland, operating under Left Bank Pictures and Sony Pictures Television. The premium detective thriller is locked into a five-month production schedule, with cameras expected to wrap on December 11, 2026. Given the extensive post-production required for the dark, cinematic series, Season 2 is projected for a release window in the second half of 2027.
Dept. Q Season 2 Cast
The core circle of misfit investigators operating out of the police station basement is fully locked to return to handle the next unsolved homicide.
Production Notes and Casting Changes
Because the central narrative shifts to an entirely new cold case, key narrative stars from the debut mystery—including Chloe Pirrie as Merritt Lingard, Patrick Kennedy as Liam Taylor, and Mark Bonnar as Stephen Burns—are not expected to return to the main line-up. While secondary figures like Chief Superintendent Moira Jacobson (Kate Dickie) and therapist Dr. Rachel Irving (Kelly Macdonald) could potentially return to anchor Carl’s professional circle, Netflix has not yet disclosed official casting announcements regarding the new suspects, victims, or central antagonists for the upcoming season.
Dept. Q Season 2 Plot Details
The upcoming season will structurally pivot to address a completely fresh cold case file from the basement archives. Showrunner Scott Frank has confirmed that having successfully resolved the high-profile disappearance of Crown Office solicitor Merritt Lingard and dismantled the Jennings family operation, Carl Morck and his small team will be forced to start from scratch on a sealed file previously deemed unsolvable.
While the writing team is keeping specific script details under wraps, the narrative framework has a wealth of source material to draw from across Adler-Olsen’s expansive ten-novel series, with potential trajectories pointing toward Disgrace or The Scarred Woman. Beyond the standalone mystery, the seasonal arc is expected to explore the deep-seated psychological fallout of the original Leith Park ambush shooting that continues to hang over Morck, while expanding the backstories and internal dynamics of his enigmatic partner Akram and the rest of the basement crew.
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