Dept. Q Returns to Edinburgh
Netflix's 'Dept. Q' Season 2 Kicks Off Edinburgh Production with Expanded Cast
Key Points
Season 2 adds a new wave of cast with Aisling Franciosi as Kimmie, Greg Wise as Derek Powell, Nicholas Rowe as Thomas Fulton, Tony Curran as Winnie Calderwood, Hamish Clark as Christopher Herron, Alex Ferns as Phil Allenbeck, Ross Anderson as Ricky Daddario, Rebecca Root as June Lovesay, Isla Johnston as Agnes, and Amy Brenneman as Helen.
Returning cast members are confirmed with named roles including Alexej Manvelov as Akram Salim, Leah Byrne as Rose Dickson, Jamie Sives as James Hardy, Kate Dickie as Moira Jacobson, Mark Bonnar as Stephen Burns, Aaron McVeigh as Jasper, and Sanjeev Kohli as Martin Fleming.
Production is officially underway in Edinburgh for Season 2, with filming planned to continue in the city; the series remains Edinburgh-set following Season 1’s success, and the renewal was confirmed in August.
Scott Frank is again directing Season 2, with Left Bank Pictures producing for Netflix; executive producers Rob Bullock and Charlotte Moore spearhead the project, underscoring Netflix’s continued commitment to the Edinburgh-set noir.
Netflix's *Dept. Q* is back in production in Edinburgh, with Season 2 officially underway and a wave of new stars joining the cast, Variety reported. The show, which debuted on May 29, 2025, and spent six consecutive weeks in the Global Top 10, was renewed in August after earning an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Matthew Goode returns as DCI Carl Mørck, leading his basement unit of misfits through what executive producer Rob Bullock calls a story about "rich and powerful people who believe they are above the law," according to Edinburgh Live.
Ten New Cast Members Join the Edinburgh Basement Unit
Netflix announced 10 new additions to the ensemble cast. Aisling Franciosi joins as Kimmie, Greg Wise as Derek Powell, and Nicholas Rowe as Thomas Fulton. Amy Brenneman plays Helen, while Tony Curran takes on the role of Winnie Calderwood, Variety confirmed.
The roster also adds Hamish Clark as Christopher Herron, Alex Ferns as Phil Allenbeck, Ross Anderson as Ricky Daddario, Rebecca Root as June Lovesay, and Isla Johnston as Agnes, according to The People's Movies. Analysts say the mix of British and American talent signals a push for broader transatlantic appeal.
Core Cast Returns Alongside Familiar Edinburgh Settings
Alexej Manvelov, Leah Byrne, Jamie Sives, and Kate Dickie all return in named roles. Mark Bonnar is back as Stephen Burns, and Sanjeev Kohli reprises Martin Fleming. Scott Frank, who created the series, is again directing every episode, Express reported.
Filming stays in Edinburgh, using the city's streets and landmarks just as Season 1 did. Location manager Hugh Gourlay previously noted the production used 13 of Edinburgh's 17 council wards. Left Bank Pictures — the firm behind *The Crown* — produces for Netflix alongside Sony Pictures Television.
Season 2 Plot Targets Scotland's Rich and Powerful
Executive producer Rob Bullock described the new season's stakes directly. "Carl and his band of misfits tackle a terrible crime hidden in the highest echelons of Scottish society," he said, according to Head Topics. He called it "a story for our times."
Netflix executive Manda Levin described the Season 2 storyline as "darkly delicious." Filming is scheduled to wrap by late 2026, with a Season 2 premiere projected for 2027. No official release date has been set.
Edinburgh's Screen Economy Gets Another Major Boost
*Dept. Q* is a major driver for Scotland's film and TV sector. Screen Scotland estimates that a wave of 17 major productions in early 2024 — including Season 1 — generated roughly £194 million in total production spending. The sector now employs 12,260 full-time equivalent workers, up 12% since 2021.
Scotland has set a target of £1 billion in gross value added from its screen sector by 2030/31. The return of *Dept. Q* for a second season, with filming confirmed through the end of 2026, keeps that goal in sight, according to Express.
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