Dept Q Season 2 – Renewal Confirmed, Filming 2026

Netflix has officially renewed Dept Q for season 2, responding to the crime thriller’s strong debut on the platform. The English-language adaptation of Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Department Q novels found an audience that kept the series in Netflix’s global top 10 for six weeks following its May 2024 premiere.

Production on the new season will shift to Edinburgh, Scotland, where filming begins in July 2026. The return of Matthew Goode as DCI Carl Morck and the core investigative team signals continuity with the first season’s cold case format.

Is Dept Q Renewed for Season 2?

• Netflix confirmed season 2 renewal following six weeks in the global top 10
• Filming scheduled to run from July through December 2026 in Edinburgh
• Matthew Goode returns as DCI Carl Morck
• Scott Frank and Chandni Lakhani continue as developers and directors
• Left Bank Pictures produces the series
• Expected release window: late 2027 or early 2028

When Is the Dept Q Season 2 Release Date?

Production timelines suggest Dept Q season 2 will not arrive until late 2027 at the earliest. Filming runs from mid-July 2026 through December 2026, and post-production for a crime drama of this scope typically requires several additional months. Executives Mona Qureshi and Manda Levin praised the series’ storytelling and global appeal when announcing the renewal, signaling confidence in the project despite the extended wait.

Filming Location Change

The production team originally planned to begin filming in spring 2026 but shifted the start date to July 13, 2026. Edinburgh, Scotland, replaces the season 1 filming locations, offering the architectural character suited to Morck’s cold case investigations in the Scottish setting.

Trailer Availability

No trailers for season 2 have been released as of this reporting. The production announcement came with confirmation of renewal but without promotional materials or a specific premiere date.

Dept Q Season 2 Cast and Plot Details

Confirmed Cast Returns

Matthew Goode leads the ensemble as DCI Carl Morck, with the complete returning cast including Alexej Manvelov as Akram, Leah Byrne as Rose, and Jamie Sives as Hardy. Season 1 featured Chloe Pirrie, Mark Bonnar, Kate Dickie, Shirley Henderson, Kelly Macdonald, and Tom Bulpett in supporting roles.

Season 2 Plot Expectations

Season 2 continues directly from the Lingard kidnapping resolution. Morck’s team successfully rescued Merritt Lingard from the Jennings family, closing the case that dominated the first season. However, the Leith Park shooting remains open, claiming an officer and informant while leaving Morck’s partner critically wounded.

Morck believes the shooting was not random. His investigation points toward gangster Eugene Errington orchestrating the attack rather than accepting the official assessment of a chance incident. This thread provides the primary narrative tension carrying into season 2.

Possible Novel Adaptations

The production may draw from several Jussi Adler-Olsen books for the season’s cold case format:

• Disgrace (Fasandræberne): Double murder connected to elite schoolboys
• Redemption (Flaskepost fra P)
• Guilty (Journal 64): State abuse programs echoing season 1’s care home themes
• Buried (Marco Effekten): Financial crimes and trafficking through a runaway boy
• The Hanging Girl (Den Grænseløse): Teen girl found hanging in a tree
• The Scarred Woman (Selfies): Elderly woman’s murder tied to a past case
• Victim 2117 (Offer 2117): Personal refugee death investigation
• The Shadow Murders (Natrium Chlorid): Serial murders linked to a suicide

Season 1 Ending Context

The first season concluded with Morck’s team securing Merritt Lingard’s rescue from the Jennings family kidnappers. The immediate crisis resolved, but the Leith Park shooting left unresolved questions. An officer and informant died while Morck’s partner nearly lost her life, fueling Morck’s conviction that Eugene Errington orchestrated the violence deliberately.

Is Dept Q Based on Books?

Department Q traces its origins to Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen’s bestselling novel series. The books, published in Danish, follow DCI Carl Morck and his Department Q cold case unit in Copenhagen. Prior to Netflix’s English adaptation, Danish-language films adapted several of the novels between 2013 and 2018.

Scott Frank, known for creating The Queen’s Gambit, developed the Netflix English-language version alongside Chandni Lakhani. Frank also directs the series, bringing a distinctive visual approach to the procedural format.

Department Q Production Timeline

1. 2007+: Jussi Adler-Olsen publishes the first Department Q novel
2. 2013-2018: Danish film adaptations released
3. May 29, 2024: Netflix English-language series premieres
4. 2024: Season 1 charts in Netflix global top 10 for six weeks
5. 2025: Netflix officially renews the series for season 2
6. July 13, 2026: Filming begins in Edinburgh, Scotland
7. December 2026: Filming scheduled to conclude
8. Late 2027/Early 2028: Anticipated season 2 release

What We Know and What Remains Unclear

Behind the Scenes: Production and Development

Producer Rob Bullock highlighted Netflix’s support for bringing the team back for another season, crediting the platform’s commitment to quality crime storytelling. The decision to relocate filming to Edinburgh reflects the production’s desire to establish a distinct visual identity for the series in its new chapter.

Matthew Goode expressed enthusiasm for continuing the character’s journey under Scott Frank’s direction, suggesting continued creative alignment between the lead actor and the creative team.

Sources and Quotes on the Renewal

“Netflix’s support for the team’s return has been exceptional, and we’re thrilled to continue telling these stories.”

Rob Bullock, Producer

“The storytelling and global appeal of Department Q have resonated with audiences worldwide.”

Mona Qureshi and Manda Levin, Netflix Executives

Information in this article draws from reporting by What’s on Netflix and TV Series Finale, which documented the renewal announcement, production timeline, and casting confirmations.

Dept Q Season 2: Current Status and Outlook

The renewal of Dept Q for a second season reflects Netflix’s investment in premium crime content with international appeal. With filming scheduled through December 2026, audiences should prepare for a wait extending into late 2027 or early 2028 before the new episodes arrive.

The existing cast and creative team returning provides continuity, while the unresolved threads from season 1, particularly the Leith Park shooting investigation, offer clear narrative momentum for the new chapter. Fans of the series can follow Best Shows on Netflix – Top 2024 Series by Views for broader context on the platform’s crime drama offerings.

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