Fans of cold-case mysteries got a surprise in August 2025 when Netflix confirmed that Dept. Q would return for a second season. The renewal came just two months after the first season hit the streamer, signaling strong confidence in the adaptation of Jussi Adler-Olsen’s bestselling novels.

4 related posts

Renewal status: Confirmed by Netflix in August 2025 ·
Season 1 premiere: May 29, 2025 ·
Filming location: Edinburgh, Scotland ·
Source material: Second novel in Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Department Q series

Quick snapshot

1Renewal & Release
2Cast & Crew
  • Matthew Goode returns as Detective Carl Morck (What’s on Netflix (streaming news site))
  • Alexej Manvelov and Leah Byrne also return (What’s on Netflix (streaming news site))
  • Scott Frank (The Queen’s Gambit) remains showrunner (What’s on Netflix (streaming news site))
3Plot & Source Material
  • Based on The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen (What’s on Netflix (streaming news site))
  • Picks up after Carl’s shooting in season 1 (What’s on Netflix (streaming news site))
  • New cold case involves a boarding school murder (What’s on Netflix (streaming news site))
4Filming & Production

The pattern is clear: a handful of confirmed details shape expectations for the second season, from the creative team to the source material.

Label Value
Showrunner Scott Frank
Network Netflix
Number of episodes (season 2) Not yet confirmed (season 1 had 8)
Source novel title The Absent One (Fasandræberne)
Filming location Edinburgh, Scotland
Renewal date August 2025 (TVSeriesFinale (TV news tracker))
Season 1 premiere May 29, 2025

Is there a season 2 of Dept. Q?

When was Dept. Q renewed?

Netflix officially renewed Dept. Q for a second season in August 2025. The confirmation came roughly three months after the first season debuted, according to What’s on Netflix (streaming news site). The exact date varies by source: TVSeriesFinale (TV news tracker) reported August 22, while IMDb (industry database) pegged it at August 18.

Why was it renewed quickly?

The first season spent six weeks in Netflix’s Global Top Ten, a performance that likely drove the fast renewal. Both What’s on Netflix (streaming news site) and TVSeriesFinale (TV news tracker) note that the show’s sustained viewership made a second season a logical next step.

How many seasons are planned?

No official word on a multi-season arc. The source material — Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Department Q series — spans multiple novels, so the potential is there. Netflix has not commented on a long-term plan.

Bottom line: Netflix renewed Dept. Q for season 2 in August 2025 after the first season performed strongly. Fans can expect a 2026 release.

Is Dept. Q season 2 filming?

When does filming start?

Production for season 2 is expected to begin in late 2025. One report from What’s on Netflix (streaming news site) suggests a July 2026 start, though that timeline may shift. The showrunner and key cast have confirmed their return.

Where is season 2 being filmed?

Like the first season, season 2 will be filmed and set in Edinburgh, Scotland. Multiple sources — including What’s on Netflix (streaming news site) and IMDb (industry database) — confirm the location choice, which keeps the show’s atmospheric Scottish setting intact.

What is the production schedule?

Filming is expected to take several months, typical for a Netflix drama of this scale. A release in early-to-mid 2026 seems likely based on the production timetable.

What to watch

The biggest unknown: when cameras actually roll. A July 2026 filming start would push the premiere to late 2026 or even 2027.

What book is season 2 of Dept. Q based on?

Which Jussi Adler-Olsen novel is adapted?

Season 2 adapts The Absent One (original Danish title: Fasandræberne), the second novel in Adler-Olsen’s Department Q series. The book was first published in 2010 in Denmark.

How faithful is the adaptation?

Netflix’s version makes deliberate changes. The show moves the setting from Denmark to Scotland and updates the timeline. In an interview with Red Online (lifestyle magazine), showrunner Scott Frank said the team aimed to preserve the novel’s core mystery while adapting it for a global audience.

What is ‘The Absent One’ about?

The novel follows Department Q as they reopen a 20-year-old cold case involving the murder of a young boy at a prestigious boarding school. The investigation uncovers a web of privilege, corruption and hidden crimes among Denmark’s elite.

The implication: Netflix bets the novel’s elite-corruption themes translate well to a Scottish setting, retaining the moral weight while expanding the show’s visual identity.

Who shot Carl in Dept. Q?

The shooter’s identity revealed

In the season 1 finale, Detective Carl Morck is shot by a figure linked to the cold case he was investigating. The attacker is a person connected to the crime Carl had been reopening — a direct retaliation that forces Carl into a fight for his life.

Motive behind the attack

The shooting is a calculated move to silence Carl and prevent him from exposing the truth. It underscores the high stakes of the Department Q work: these are not just old files, but active threats.

Impact on Carl’s character

Carl survives, but the trauma reshapes him. Season 2 will explore how the shooting affects his psychology and his ability to lead the department.

How did Carl survive after getting shot?

Medical treatment and recovery

Carl underwent emergency surgery after being shot. The physical recovery is slow — he carries visible scars and deals with chronic pain. The show does not gloss over the severity of his injuries.

Psychological aftermath

Beyond the physical, Carl suffers from PTSD. The shooting haunts him, creating flashbacks and moments of paranoia. This psychological weight is a central theme heading into season 2.

Return to work in season 2

Season 2 will show Carl struggling to return to active duty. His colleagues, especially Assad and Rose, must adjust to a more vulnerable Morck — one who cannot simply shake off what happened.

The trade-off

Carl’s trauma makes him a more compelling detective but also a more fragile one. The show trades invincibility for depth.

Timeline: From renewal to release

  • – Netflix greenlights Dept. Q series
  • – Season 1 premieres on Netflix
  • – Netflix renews Dept. Q for season 2
  • – Expected start of filming for season 2
  • – Season 2 release window

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Season 2 has been renewed by Netflix (What’s on Netflix (streaming news site))
  • Matthew Goode returns as Carl Morck (What’s on Netflix (streaming news site))
  • Season 2 adapts The Absent One (What’s on Netflix (streaming news site))
  • Filming will take place in Edinburgh (IMDb (industry database))

What’s unclear

  • Exact release date for season 2
  • Number of episodes in season 2
  • Whether the spider subplot from season 1 will continue

Key quotes from the team

“Dept. Q is checking in for season 2.”

– Netflix Tudum (official Netflix announcement)

“We wanted to keep the heart of the novel but make it feel fresh for a global audience.”

– Scott Frank, showrunner, in an interview with Red Online (lifestyle magazine)

Summary

The renewal of Dept. Q for a second season proves that audiences are hungry for smart, atmospheric crime dramas. For Netflix, the bet on Scott Frank’s adaptation paid off. For viewers, the wait for season 2 will test patience — but the promise of a deeper dive into Carl Morck’s trauma and a new cold case adapted from a beloved novel is worth it. The implication is clear: Dept. Q is no longer a one-season experiment; it’s a franchise in the making.

Related reading: **Cast of House of the Dragon: Main Actors and Season 3 Guide** · **Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Season 2, Age, LGBTQ+ Guide**

Additional sources

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Frequently asked questions

Who stars in Dept. Q season 2?

Matthew Goode returns as Carl Morck, alongside Alexej Manvelov as Assad, Leah Byrne as Rose, and Jamie Sives. Scott Frank remains showrunner.

Will season 2 follow the same cold-case format?

Yes, the show will continue the cold-case structure, with Department Q investigating an unresolved historical crime — this time a boarding school murder from The Absent One.

Is there a trailer for season 2?

No trailer has been released yet. Trailers typically drop two to three months before a season premiere.

How is season 2 different from the book?

Netflix’s adaptation moves the setting from Denmark to Scotland and updates the timeline. The core mystery and characters remain, but the show makes creative changes for a global audience.

Where was Dept. Q filmed?

The series is filmed in Edinburgh, Scotland. Season 2 will shoot there as well.

Does Carl fully recover from his shooting?

Not fully. The shooting leaves physical and psychological scars. Season 2 will explore Carl’s PTSD and his struggle to return to active duty.