Taboo season 2 Renewal Status
Taboo was renewed for a second season just weeks after its debut, back in March 2017, thanks to strong viewership numbers—averaging 1.33 million live U.S. viewers per episode on FX, with totals climbing to 5.8 million including delayed and streaming platforms. BBC One’s Charlotte Moore hailed the series a “phenomenal success,” crediting its iPlayer box set for engaging younger audiences and sparking widespread buzz.
Taboo season 2 Potential Release Date
Patience has been the name of the game for Taboo fans, but 2025’s updates offer real hope. No firm premiere date has been announced by BBC or FX, but speculation points to late 2026 or early 2027 if filming kicks off in late 2025 or early 2026. Knight targeted a late 2023 production start in 2022, but delays pushed it back—now, with scripts in hand and Hardy on board, momentum is building.
The original eight-episode run aired in January 2017, so expect a similar mid-winter slot on BBC One (UK) and FX (US). Streaming will likely follow on Netflix and BBC iPlayer, where Season 1 thrives today. Hardy teased an Instagram post in February 2025 with Season 1 music and cryptic imagery, fueling speculation—though he quickly edited out “Taboo Season 2” text. On X, fans like @HW1912345 are still venting their wait, but posts from @datiCEguy highlight the demand for more. Stay tuned: A 2026 release feels increasingly plausible.
Taboo season 2 Cast Updates
Tom Hardy is locked in as James Keziah Delaney, the tattooed adventurer haunted by his past—his passion for the role is evident, calling Season 2 “really, really important” to him. As co-creator with his father Chips Hardy and Steven Knight, he’s deeply invested, even hinting at Dickens-inspired expansions like Great Expectations.
Expect key survivors from Season 1’s finale to reprise their roles, as Delaney’s crew sails into new dangers:
| Character | Actor | Role Highlights | Expected Return? |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Keziah Delaney | Tom Hardy | The vengeful antihero | Confirmed |
| Lorna Bow | Jessie Buckley | Delaney’s fierce stepmother and ally | Highly likely |
| George Cholmondeley | Tom Hollander | Eccentric chemist and confidant | Highly likely |
| Atticus | Stephen Graham | Ruthless underworld enforcer | Highly likely |
| Michael Godfrey | Edward Hogg | East India Company insider turned mole | Highly likely |
Taboo season 2 Potential Plot
Taboo Season 2 picks up directly from the Season 1 cliffhanger: Delaney, having bombed the East India Company and avenged his father’s death, commandeers a ship and declares, “We are Americans,” sailing west under the Stars and Stripes to rendezvous with shadowy U.S. agent Colonnade. Knight teases a shift: “Taboo heads west and becomes a little bit more narcotic, more opium-affected,” relocating to Ponta Delgada in the Azores for international intrigue.
The core themes—colonial corruption, family curses, and Delaney’s hallucinatory visions—will deepen post-War of 1812, blending historical grit with supernatural edges. Hardy hints at ambiguity: “James is very ambiguous with how much information he’s going to give,” building to a reckoning with American powers. Knight’s got the full arc mapped: “We’ve got the idea, we know what the story is.” Expect eight episodes of betrayal, opium dens, and Delaney’s quest for Nootka Sound’s secrets—darker, more expansive, and unapologetically taboo.
