TABOO IS BACK FOR SEASON 2 — AND JAMES DELANEY IS NO LONGER SEEKING R3VENGE… HE IS THE CONSEQUENCE. WATCH NOW.

After years of eager anticipation, cryptic teases, and endless fan speculation, Taboo Season 2 is officially in the works—and 2026 could finally bring us closer to seeing James Keziah Delaney back on screen. The gritty, atmospheric period drama created by Steven Knight, Tom Hardy, and Chips Hardy has long been a cult favorite since its 2017 debut on BBC One and FX. Now, with Tom Hardy himself confirming in recent interviews that “we’re writing that at the moment,” the long-delayed second season is moving forward, with development actively underway and potential production eyed for 2026, pointing to a premiere in late 2026 or more likely 2027.

Taboo Season 1 remains one of the most distinctive and uncompromising series of the 2010s. Set in 1814 London amid the aftermath of the War of 1812, it followed the enigmatic adventurer James Keziah Delaney (Tom Hardy), who returns from a decade in Africa to claim his inheritance: a piece of strategically vital land called Nootka Sound. What unfolds is a dark tale of revenge, corruption, incestuous family secrets, East India Company intrigue, voodoo-tinged mysticism, and brutal violence. Hardy’s performance as the brooding, haunted Delaney—complete with his gravelly voice, piercing stare, and animalistic intensity—earned widespread praise, turning the show into a slow-burn masterpiece of gothic atmosphere, political conspiracy, and psychological depth.

The season ended on a deliberately unresolved note: Delaney secures Nootka Sound, orchestrates the downfall of his enemies (including the East India Company and the Crown), and sails west with a ragtag crew toward an uncertain future. Questions linger: What truly happened to him in Africa? What supernatural or cursed knowledge does he possess? Will his quest for power consume him entirely? Season 2 promises to pick up this thread, likely expanding Delaney’s journey across the Atlantic, delving deeper into colonial exploitation, Native American alliances, and the personal demons that drive him.

Latest Updates & Production Status (as of January 2026)

Confirmation & Writing Progress: Tom Hardy has repeatedly affirmed the project’s vitality, noting in 2025 interviews that scripts are actively being developed. Creator Steven Knight previously revealed that six of eight episodes were already written years ago, with the team “trying to get the stars aligned” around Hardy’s schedule. Recent comments emphasize quality over haste: “It’s a question of doing it properly,” Hardy said, explaining delays due to commitments like the Venom trilogy, The Bikeriders, and his Paramount+ series MobLand.
Timeline: Filming is speculated to begin in 2026 (potentially early to mid-year), depending on Hardy’s availability post-MobLand and other projects. If production kicks off then, a premiere could land in late 2026 at the earliest, though early-to-mid 2027 feels more realistic given post-production needs for such a visually dense show.
Platform: The series will likely return on BBC One (UK) and FX (US), with streaming on platforms like Hulu (US) or BBC iPlayer (UK). No official trailer or first-look images have dropped yet, but Hardy’s past cryptic Instagram posts—featuring crows, ships, and Max Richter’s haunting “The Inexorable Advance of Mr Delaney”—suggest more teases are coming.

Returning Cast & New Possibilities

Tom Hardy as James Keziah Delaney – The undisputed star and co-creator, expected to reprise his iconic role with even greater intensity.
Returning Survivors (likely): Oona Chaplin (Zilpha Geary, though her fate was tragic—flashbacks possible), Jessie Buckley (Lorenza “Lorna” Thorne), David Hayman (Brace), and perhaps Stephen Graham or Jefferson Hall in expanded capacities.
New Faces: Season 2’s westward expansion could introduce Native American characters, American frontier figures, or rival colonial powers, bringing fresh talent to the ensemble.

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Why Season 2 Is Worth the Wait

Taboo stands apart for its refusal to sanitize history: it portrays 19th-century London as a cesspool of greed, slavery, opium, and power struggles, all wrapped in a dreamlike, almost hallucinatory aesthetic. The show’s slow pacing, immersive production design (muddy streets, candlelit rooms, foggy docks), and Mark Gatiss/Joss Whedon-level dialogue make it feel like a fever dream of Dickensian darkness crossed with Cormac McCarthy grit.

Fans have waited nearly a decade for answers—about Delaney’s African past, the full extent of his “gift” (visions? curses?), and whether redemption or destruction awaits him. With Hardy and Knight fully committed, Season 2 has the potential to elevate an already legendary series into something even more mythic.

Catch up on Season 1 now on Hulu, Netflix (in select regions), or BBC iPlayer—it’s the perfect time to revisit the madness before Delaney sets sail again.