Netflix is no stranger to dropping shows that turn into major hits. The streamer, in 2024, dropped the spy thriller series, Black Doves, starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw, and it simply became a smash hit. With a nearly perfect score of 94% from critics and a solid 64% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, Black Doves has established itself as a critically acclaimed spy series. Already renewed for a second season, the series was expected to return sometime in 2026, over a year after Season 1 premiered on Netflix. However, recent news reports suggest that the wait for the show’s return might be a longer one.
According to What’s on Netflix, filming on Season 2 of Black Doves was set to begin in July, but that seems to have changed. Now, production has been delayed for several months, with September being the likely kick-off point. The sophomore season was expected to premiere in 2026, but this latest development seems to put those plans in jeopardy. A 2026 release for Season 2 seems like an already lengthy wait time for the show, given that Season 1 premiered in 2024. So, should filming stretch out into the new year, further pushing back that calendar, audiences might have quite a wait on their hands to contend with.
It is somewhat surprising that filming on Black Doves Season 2 will kick off in the fall. Whishaw, who plays Sam in the spy series, spoke with Collider‘s Steve Weintraub early this year and provided an update on Season 2. At the time, Whishaw offered a disappointing update, and one might have hoped that perhaps, things would have sped along nicely six months down the line. Whishaw comments on whether we will see Season 2 in the near future, reads:
“It hasn’t been written, so I actually can say nothing. I know nothing about it. That’s boring, isn’t it? You’re not interested in that, but it’s the truth. It’s not written. It’s six months, or seven months away, or something.”
Season 2 of ‘Black Doves’ Was Always Meant to Begin Filming This Year
The series quickly shot to the top spot on Netflix charts upon its debut on Netflix with its thoroughly engrossing storyline. The critically-acclaimed spy series cast Knightley as Helen Webb, Whishaw as Sam Young, Sarah Lancashire as Reed, Andrew, Buchan as Wallace Webb, Andrew Koji as Jason Davies, Omari Douglas as Michael, Sam Troughton as Stephen Yarrick, Ella Lily Hyland as Williams, and Isabella Wei as Kai-Ming. Further rounding off the cast are Adam Silver as Arnie, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Zack, Hannah Khalique-Brown as Maggie, Ken Nwosu as Bill, Kathryn Hunter as Lenny Lines, Gabrielle Creevy as Eleanor, Paapa Essiedu as Elmore Fitch, and many more. Written and created by Joe Barton, the writer spoke about the wait time between seasons at the tail end of last year, promising at the time that the wait wouldn’t be too long. He said at the time:
“Literally, I’m in the writers’ room right now. We have just finished a meeting. We’re figuring it all out and putting it all down on paper. But yeah, we’re going to be filming next year, so hopefully, it won’t be too long a wait between series for people. That’s where we’re at.”
Black Doves Season 2 does not yet have an official release date, but you can stream Season 1 on Netflix.
via Collider