Meta Description: Taboo Season 2 is officially in development with Tom Hardy returning as James Keziah Delaney. Here’s everything we know about the story, release date, and what to expect from the long-awaited sequel.
The Return of James Delaney
After nearly a decade of silence, Tom Hardy is finally returning to one of his most mysterious and powerful roles — James Keziah Delaney in Taboo Season 2. The BBC and FX have confirmed that production is underway, with the new season set to premiere in late 2026.
The first season of Taboo, which aired in 2017, became a cult hit. Co-created by Tom Hardy and his father, Chips Hardy, along with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, the series combined dark historical drama, psychological depth, and supernatural mystery in a way that few shows have since replicated.
Now, nearly ten years later, Hardy and Knight are ready to continue the saga — and this time, the stakes are higher than ever.
Where Season 1 Left Off
The first season followed James Delaney, a man presumed dead who returns to London from Africa in 1814 after his father’s mysterious death. Possessing both secrets and madness, Delaney finds himself in the middle of a brutal power struggle involving the East India Company, the British Crown, and American agents.
The finale saw James and his followers escaping England on a ship bound for America after a violent confrontation with British forces. As the ship sailed into the fog, Delaney’s haunting words echoed: “We are Americans now.”
That cliffhanger left fans desperate for answers — and after years of uncertainty, Season 2 is finally set to deliver them.
What to Expect from Taboo Season 2
According to Steven Knight, Taboo Season 2 will pick up directly after the events of Season 1. Delaney and his band of followers are now in America, seeking freedom while carrying secrets that could reshape nations.
Knight has hinted that the story will explore espionage, rebellion, and early American politics, with Delaney becoming entangled in the birth of modern intelligence networks. Expect more secret societies, political conspiracies, and the same shadowy mysticism that defined the first season.
He also described Season 2 as “an exploration of America’s corruption and Britain’s guilt — seen through the eyes of a man who belongs to neither.”
This next chapter promises to be wider in scale, stretching from London’s foggy streets to the war-torn landscapes of early 19th-century America.
Tom Hardy’s Vision and Commitment
For Tom Hardy, Taboo is deeply personal. Not only did he co-create the series with his father, but he also shaped James Delaney into one of the most layered antiheroes on television — a man both monstrous and noble, brilliant and broken.
Hardy has described Delaney as “a ghost of the Empire,” and his return shows his ongoing passion for complex, morally gray characters. After success in Venom, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Peaky Blinders, Taboo marks a return to the kind of intense storytelling that made Hardy a fan favorite among critics and audiences alike.
In an interview, Hardy said:
“We started something very unique with Taboo. It’s taken time, but the next chapter will go deeper — into the man, into the myth, and into the darkness that created him.”
Cast and Crew
Alongside Tom Hardy, several familiar faces are expected to return, including:
- Stephen Graham as Atticus
- David Hayman as Brace
- Jessie Buckley as Lorna Bow
- Edward Hogg as Michael Godfrey
New characters are also expected to be introduced as Delaney’s story expands across the Atlantic, including American agents, Native leaders, and revolutionary soldiers.
Steven Knight once again serves as writer and executive producer, with Ridley Scott returning under his Scott Free Productions banner. The production began in 2025 in the UK and Canada, with a cinematic budget aimed at delivering a darker, grander version of the world fans know.
Why Fans Are Excited
Taboo built a loyal fanbase with its moody atmosphere, poetic dialogue, and Tom Hardy’s magnetic performance. Its slow-burn storytelling, philosophical undertones, and unpredictable violence made it stand apart from every other period drama on television.
The announcement of Season 2 immediately sparked excitement online, with fans calling it “the return of real television.” Many see Taboo as Hardy’s best work — a mix of Peaky Blinders grit, Game of Thrones scale, and Sherlock Holmes intrigue.
Release and Expectations
Taboo Season 2 is expected to premiere in December 2026 on BBC One and FX, followed by global streaming on Hulu and Netflix. The eight-episode season is already being described as “bigger, darker, and more dangerous” than the first.
Given the creative team’s history, fans can expect another meticulously crafted period thriller filled with tension, symbolism, and Hardy’s trademark intensity.