Series 2

**Series 2** of *Taboo* is scheduled to broadcast on BBC One and FX for the viewers of the UK and US, respectively.

Filming was initially set to start in January 2019 but it has since then been confirmed, by Steven Knight himself, that filming has been postponed to the latter part of 2019, or early 2020. Production was further delayed due the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Premises

After the drawn-out and bloody gunfight in London’s docks, Delaney and his rag-tag crew manage to sail off towards America on a boat full of gunpowder and dreams.

## Cast

* Tom Hardy as James Delaney
* Jessie Buckley as Lorna Bow
* Stephen Graham as Atticus
* Tom Hollander as George Cholmondeley
* Edward Hogg as Michael Godfrey
* Louis Serkis as Robert
* Scroobius Pip as French Bill

## Production

The new eight-part series was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content and Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama. It will be produced by Scott Free London and Hardy Son & Baker for BBC One and FX with Sonar Entertainment distributing worldwide outside the UK. Executive producers are Scott and Kate Crowe for Scott Free, Tom Hardy and Dean Baker for Hardy Son & Baker, and Knight.

Piers Wenger, head of drama at the BBC, said Series 2 promises something "daring and different."

Producer Ridley Scott added: "We’re thrilled people want to know what happens next and that the BBC and FX are up for more adventures with the devil Delaney and the league of the damned." Knight seconded that, claiming that "James Delaney will continue to explore many realities as he takes his band of misfits to a new world, thanks to FX and the BBC, partners who could not be more suited to collaborating in ground breaking work."

Series 2 - commissioned back in March of 2017 - remains in limbo due to star Tom Hardy's availability. "It really just comes down to Tom; it comes down to what Tom wants to do, when he wants to do it, when he is available," FX Chief John Landgraf said. "I could see both those seasons getting made and relatively soon, and I could see neither of those seasons getting made."

In 2022, Knight appeared at the Creative Cities Convention in Digbeth, Birmingham, where he revealed Tom and he intend to start production towards the end of 2023.

### Development

Asked about the second installment being "the Birth of a Nation," Knight said: "I think we don’t talk about that. In my mind, explosive stuff is going to happen, which will be great, should it happen. There’s a great destination for it, but I don’t know if we’re in a position to talk about the actual details of it." Hardy added: "We’re onto the next stage. The key really is Colonnade. When he says, 'We are Americans,' James is very ambiguous with how much information he’s going to give. In his mind, you will know when the time is right."

### Delay

According to Ridley Scott, Taboo was expected to go into production in September 2018  but the production was delayed twice due to conflicting schedule. Filming was slated to late 2019, early 2020.

FX entertainment president Eric Schrier confirmed ongoing talks about a potential second series, but that its return is "dependent on working around Hardy's busy schedule". John Landgraf, FX Networks and FX Productions chairman, added: "Steven is definitely game and we have what I think is a great idea for a second season, some of which has already been written but we just need the actor. We're in active conversations."

In the meantime, Stephen Knight devoted himself entirely to the production of *Peaky Blinders* with the goal of expanding that franchise to feature films and potential scripted spin-off series.

COVID-19 pandemic put a further hold on production, postponing it until a later date.

## Gallery

* Behind the Scenes

Autographed Clapperboard 2018Revelation TeaserPitch Key Art
## Production Notes

* On June 6, 2017, Tom Hardy released a series of promotional images, featuring a playing card with the Latin motto "Qui Scio, Scire" and the numbers 3/7/9.
* The images are captioned with: *"Delaney is the Knight. The Day becomes a stormy tempest, And when the Queen rises The Flags will burn. The children grown Shall run across the sky and tear a hole across the coutments Burn Fire"; "3 is not absolute the offspring of Horace resolute beware the reckoning"; "Burn all of them"; "Delaney is dead "; "There are others... beware the Knight who jests"; "Delaney's Journey is not the only Taboo...".*
* Cast expected to return include Tom Hardy ("James Delaney"), Jessie Buckley ("Lorna Bow"), Tom Hollander ("George Cholmondeley") and Edward Hogg ("Michael Godfrey"). Wether Sir Stuart Strange, played by Jonathan Pryce survived the bomb attack is yet to be determined.
* On December 5th, 2017, Tom Hardy teased fans, saying: "Where to go America or to the Azores??? Pick up the other Hoods or fight the big fight...? Do you want to meet the other villains JKD is but the littlest of that particular set? Or shall we take the fight forward to Nootka. You choose. Son of Horace will listen."

## References

1. ↑ *Tom Hardy quoting Revelation for Upcoming Taboo Series* (@tomhardy)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *Collider, Steven Knight Confirms ‘Taboo’ Season 2; Production Starts Late 2019 or Early 2020*
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Here's the real reason why Tom Hardy's BBC series Taboo went on "hiatus" before season 2 - Digital Spy
4. ↑ *Express.co.uk, When does Taboo season 2 start? BBC release date, cast, and more on Tom Hardy series.*
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Season Two: Who will be in the cast with Tom Hardy?
6. ↑ Tom Hardy Drama ‘Taboo’ Renewed For Season 2 By BBC One & FX
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Tom Hardy says there will be a Taboo series 2 – and it'll be "explosive
8. ↑ ‘Taboo’ Could Do 2 More Seasons Soon — Or None, And It’s Up To Tom Hardy, FX Chief Says
9. ↑ BBC’s Taboo series 2: the gritty Tom Hardy-fronted period drama is returning and will commence production in 2023
10. ↑ Tom Hardy sorta maybe confirms Taboo season 2: ‘We’re onto the next stage’
11. ↑ Ridley Scott on Production starting in September 2018
12. ↑ Taboo season 2 is still happening - Radio Times
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Tom Hardy has released mysterious promotional pictures on Instagram
14. ↑ Tom Hary teasing S2 content on Instagram