The wait for more cold cases from the basement just got a little longer for fans of the Scottish crime drama. Dept. Q viewers have been eager to see what Detective Carl Morck and his team of misfits will tackle next, and now there is finally a concrete update about when production will begin. Along with the filming schedule, details about the specific case the team will investigate in the second season have also come to light, giving fans a clear picture of what to expect when the show returns to Netflix.
Dept. Q Season 2 Filming Is Set to Begin in July 2026
After months of speculation about when cameras would start rolling, a specific date has now been confirmed for the start of production on the second season. According to production listings and multiple reports, Dept. Q Season 2 will officially begin filming on July 13, 2026.
The shoot is scheduled to take place in Edinburgh, Scotland, which serves as the primary backdrop for the series. The city’s historic streets and misty atmosphere are key elements of the show’s ‘Tartan noir’ visual style. Production is expected to be a lengthy one, running for approximately five months. The current schedule indicates that filming will continue through the end of the year, with a planned wrap in December 2026.
This extended production timeline means that post-production and editing will take several additional months. As a result, the earliest the new episodes could arrive on the streaming platform is likely the latter half of 2027, or potentially early 2028. This puts the return of the series at about two and a half years after the first season debuted in May 2025.
The New Case: Adapting The Absent One
While the show has kept many plot details under wraps, information about the central mystery for the upcoming season has emerged. Dept. Q Season 2 is expected to loosely adapt the second novel in Jussi Adler-Olsen’s bestselling book series, titled The Absent One.
The story shifts the focus to a cold case involving a 20-year-old double murder of a brother and sister. The investigation pulls Carl Morck and his team into a dark world of privilege and secrets. The case leads them to an elite boarding school, where the wealthy and powerful have worked for decades to bury the truth.
A key figure in the case is a woman named Kimmie, who now lives on the streets but holds critical information about what really happened years ago. As the team gets closer to the truth, they find themselves up against powerful individuals who will do anything to protect their reputations and keep the past hidden. This storyline introduces themes of institutional corruption and class, adding a layer of social tension to the procedural drama.
The Full Cast Is Returning to the Basement
Fans can expect to see all the main characters back in action. Matthew Goode is confirmed to return as DCI Carl Morck, the brilliant but haunted detective still dealing with PTSD and guilt from the shooting incident in the first season. His obsessive methods will be tested as he suspects the new case might involve corruption within the police force itself.
The rest of the “Team Do Lally” will also be back. Alexej Manvelov returns as Akram Salim, who has now been promoted to Detective Inspector. The new season is expected to explore more of Akram’s mysterious past. Leah Byrne will reprise her role as Rose, whose character is set to become more central as the emotional and intellectual anchor for the team. Jamie Sives is also returning as Hardy, who is now dealing with the aftermath of the Leith Park shooting that left him paralyzed, and his personal investigation may uncover shocking details.
Scott Frank, the creator and director behind the first season, will return to direct episodes for the new run. The series continues to be produced by Left Bank Pictures in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television.
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Why the Wait for Season 2 Will Be Worthwhile
While the news of a late 2027 or 2028 release might feel like a long time to wait, the production team is focusing on delivering a story that matches the high quality of the first season. The first season of Dept. Q was a massive hit for Netflix, spending six weeks in the Global Top 10 and amassing over 222 million viewing hours.
The commitment to filming on location in Edinburgh and adapting the intricate plot of The Absent One requires time. The goal is to maintain the same level of suspense, character depth, and atmospheric storytelling that made the debut season a success. With Scott Frank at the helm and the full cast returning, the second season aims to deliver a mystery that is even more complex and personal for Carl Morck and his team.
For now, fans can catch up on the first season of Dept. Q, which is currently streaming on Netflix worldwide.
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