Confirmation, Cast, Plot and Everything We Know

Nine years after its BBC One premiere, the Tom Hardy TV thriller Taboo has been at the forefront of many crime-thriller fans’ minds, with the second season still hanging over their heads. The parties involved have continued to express interest in the project, with co-creator Steven Knight having said as much as recently as early 2026. The historical fiction story concerns James Delaney (Hardy), an entrepreneurial explorer returning to England following an extended stay in Africa, where he finds stark socioeconomic changes.

Although it’s uncommon for a TV show to return several years after debuting, Hardy remains as involved in Taboo‘s second season as in the first. Remember, Hardy wrote the story with his father, Chips Hardy, giving the actor more responsibility and authority over where Taboo goes from here. While unlikely to hit the small screen anytime soon, it’s time to drum up fervent enthusiasm for Taboo Season 2 by highlighting all the key facts about the show’s return.

Tom Hardy and Steven Knight Are Still Invested in Bringing ‘Taboo’ Season 2 to Development

James reads cards at a table in Taboo

BBC One

As Paramount+ subscribers know, Tom Hardy is starring on the small screen in the British gangster series MobLand. While promoting the show with LadBible in March 2025, Hardy addressed Taboo Season 2 and assured fans, “We’re writing that at the moment.” The confirmation comes a month after Hardy made an enigmatic IG post, which his followers took as a Taboo Season 2 tease.

It has almost been a year since Hardy’s previous update had fans excited about a potential new season, with little in the way of actual development news. In a recent interview with Radio Times in early 2026, co-creator Steven Knight said that Tom and he, “are both keen to continue, and there are lots of people who want us to continue in that direction. It’s been a question of schedules and deciding where it goes next.“

As the discussion around the second season dates back to 2021, when Hardy and crew were first eyeing a 2023 filming schedule (via Collider), the ongoing delays have given fans reason to be hesitant, even with continual updates from Hardy and Knight on their intent to work on the project. Still, Hardy’s personal connection to the project remains essential to its eventual release.

What Was ‘Taboo’ Season 1 About?

Taboo was created by Steven Knight, who worked with Tom Hardy on the underrated 2013 movie Locke and the hit British gangster drama Peaky Blinders. Working from a story by Tom and Chips Hardy, Taboo focuses on James Keziah Delaney, an unscrupulous explorer, adventurer, and capitalistic opportunist who returns to England to attend his father Horace’s (Edward Fox) funeral.

Long thought to be dead, James returns after spending a decade in Africa and learns he has inherited Nootka Sound, a parcel of land off the United States’ west coast. Although the East India Company proposes to purchase Nootka Sound, James’ half-sister/lover Zilpha (Oona Chaplin) holds out, knowing that the land will increase in value soon, once the War of 1812 ends.

‘Taboo’ Remains a Personal Project for Hardy

For Hardy, the appeal of Taboo goes back to writing with his father, an intimate and personal affair representing quality over quantity. Speaking with MovieWeb, Hardy stated:

“So, Taboo is something that’s for me and my family and Steven. It’s something we wanted to take time to do properly.”

“I’ve been working for the last seven years on Venom, so it had to take a little bit of a backseat, but it’s something that I’m very passionate about. So when I have the space properly to commit, I’d revisit it properly. So it’s never been something that we didn’t want to do. It’s a question of when, and doing it properly.”

“Properly” is the operative word Hardy uttered thrice, reinforcing the desire to craft a durable TV series that will withstand time. Refreshingly, Taboo harks back to the days of appointment viewing, when television episodes were must-see events rather than binge-worthy programs loaded with formulaic filler. Such TV shows are often canceled before running their course, robbing viewers of a fully fleshed-out story.

Honestly, more TV showrunners should take the time to craft more compelling stories from beginning to end rather than rushing a product to meet a release date. By prioritizing quality over quantity, viewers and streamers would benefit.

‘Taboo’ Season 2 Expected Plot and Cast

While details remain shrouded, Taboo Season 2 will continue James Delaney’s business exploits in London during the 19th century following the War of 1812. Season 1 concludes with Delaney fatally avenging East India Company Chair Stuart Strange (Jonathan Pryce) by planting a bomb nearby. Meanwhile, Horace’s loyal servant, Brace (David Hayman), escapes captivity and plans on using evidence to expose the East India Company’s shady business operations.

Given what transpires in Season 1, Jonathan Pryce is unlikely to return in Taboo Season 2. Unless seen in flashbacks, neither will Oona Chaplin, whose character Zilpha took her own life by leaping into the River Thames. James Delaney must deal with his half-sister’s and lover’s suicide in Season 2 after reeling in despair over the discovery in the Season 1 finale.

Furthermore, Taboo‘s first season killed off Winter (Ruby-May Martinwood), the daughter of brothel owner Helga (Franka Potente), and East India Company employee Benjamin Wilton (Leo Bill). As such, Bill and Martinwood are not expected to star in Taboo Season 2.

Although new cast additions have yet to be announced, Taboo Season 2 will likely mirror Season 1 with eight episodes. Surviving characters like Horace’s widow Lorna (Jessie Buckley), Zilpha’s husband Thorne (Jefferson Hall), James Delaney’s son Robert (Louis Ashbourne Serkis), James’ informant Atticus (Stephen Graham), and others are likely to play key roles as well.

There is no telling exactly when the highly-rated period TV drama will release new episodes. Despite Hardy’s comments suggesting the scripts were being actively worked on as early as March 2025 and Knight’s continued enthusiasm for the project, Taboo season 2 is still in development. This means that the cast and plot also remain speculative based on the inaugural season. Crime fans are certainly itching for another season of Taboo, but for now, they will have to continue to wait.