Taboo series two: Everything we know about Tom Hardy's return to the 'dark, dirty brute of a drama'

Grunting adventurer James 'the Devil' Delaney last seen setting sail for the New World

Taboo, the colonial-era mystery series starring Tom Hardy, is to return for a second outing.

“We are grateful and excited to continue our relationship with the BBC and FX in contributing towards British drama. Fantastic news,” the star said of his show's renewal.

The story, set in the early 19th century and channelling Joseph Conrad, sees Hardy’s James Delaney return from deepest Africa to claim his inheritance following the death of his shipping magnate father, only to become embroiled in a sinister conspiracy involving his family, the East India Company and the American colony of Nootka Sound.

Hardy – last seen on the big screen in Venom – created the eight-part adventure with his father Chips, an advertising director with a sideline in fiction writing. The pair hired Steven Knight to write the screenplay, who had previously worked with Hardy on Locke (2013) and Peaky Blinders (2013-).

Here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming instalment.

When will series two of Taboo be released?

No date for the production has yet been confirmed but the show’s return was confirmed in March as was widely expected, given that the first ended with Hardy’s men setting sail for America.

Confirming the new series, Knight said: “James Delaney will continue to explore many realities as he takes his band of misfits to a new world.”

Executive producer Sir Ridley Scott added his thanks to the production partners for “supporting Taboo at every stage so it could be the dark, dirty brute of a drama that it is”.

“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.”

What might take place this time around?

“We’re onto the next stage,” Hardy told Entertainment Weekly last year.

“The key really is Colonnade [a codeword revealed by an American spy]. 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.”

“Explosive stuff is going to happen,” Knight added in the same interview, declining to give further details.

Hardy as James 'the Devil' Delaney (FX/BBC)

The writer had previously told The Huffington Post: “I can feel the three acts. The first was ‘the escape’, the second will be ‘the journey’, and the third will be ‘the arrival’ and that’ll be it.”

The first series attracted a talented supporting cast including Oona Chaplin, Mark Gatiss, Stephen Graham, Michael Kelly, Jonathan Pryce, Edward Fox, Tom Hollander and, er, Scroobius Pip.

So far, no new additions have been confirmed.

How was series one of Taboo received?

Taboo received broadly mixed reviews from critics.

The Independent‘s Jack Shepherd admired the “dirty aesthetic” it shared with Peaky Blinders but was ultimately left frustrated by the “unanswered questions” Taboo posed.

“By giving very little away it also leaves viewers with very little reason to care for any of these characters, including Delaney, who appears to have righteous intentions but spends the majority of the hour brooding,” he said

“Heavyweight actors Hardy and Pryce give bucketfuls of gravitas to their roles, even if Hardy’s wavering Bane-like accent and ridiculous hat are sometimes unintentionally humorous.”

Hardy told Digital Spy that his character – who went viral after a collection of his 72 onscreen grunts was compiled – was inspired by his role in the BBC’s 2007 adaptation of Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist (1839).

“To be bluntly honest, I wanted to play Bill Sykes, Sherlock Holmes, Hannibal Lecter, Heathcliff, Marlow... just every classical character in one.”

How Delaney will develop is season two will be one of its major points of interest.