Netflix has kicked off production on ‘Black Doves‘ Season 2 in and around London, bringing Keira Knightley (Pride & Prejudice, The Imitation Game) and Ben Whishaw (Skyfall) back to the stylish espionage thriller, while welcoming major new cast members Neve Campbell and Babou Ceesay into the fold. The series delivered a sharp, twisty burst of festive spy drama last year, and the new season arrives with returning favourites and a killer set of additional actors ready to stir up more trouble.
Season 2 picks up with Helen, still leaking her nation’s secrets to the shadowy organisation known as the Black Doves. Her life has not exactly become easier. After the explosive events of last Christmas and with her husband, Wallace, played by Andrew Buchan (Broadchurch), preparing to become prime minister, her double life is now balanced on an even thinner tightrope.
Meanwhile, her enigmatic handler Mrs. Reed, portrayed by Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley), becomes caught in a ruthless internal power play that threatens her standing within the organisation. Helen is soon reunited with Sam, played by Ben Whishaw (Skyfall), although the once elite triggerman is now spending more evenings nursing drinks in Soho bars and picking up low-grade assignments. Their search for answers pulls them back through old loyalties, painful history and all the hidden corners of the past they hoped to leave behind.
Creator, writer and executive producer Joe Barton (Giri/Haji) shared his excitement for the new season, saying: “I couldn’t be more excited to delve back into the world of our murderous little spy family. To have so many of our amazing cast returning and also being able to add some of my absolute favourite actors into the mix is such a great joy. Downing Street will never be the same.”
Alongside the returning ensemble, fans of ‘Black Doves’ can look forward to another strong lineup. Season 1 stars Kathryn Hunter, Ella Lily Hyland, Gabrielle Creevy, Agnes O’Casey, and Molly Chesworth are all back.
The additional cast joining Season 2 brings even more intrigue. Ambika Mod (One Day) steps in as Laila, a sharp and anarchic Black Doves agent tasked with helping Helen. Babou Ceesay (Alien: Earth) appears as Mr. Conteh, a senior Black Doves executive whose true intentions are far from clear. Sam Riley (Firebrand) plays Patrick, an emissary from a shadowy organisation who offers Sam a tantalising lifeline. Neve Campbell (Scream, The Lincoln Lawyer) joins as Cecile Mason, while Sylvia Hoeks (Blade Runner 2049) portrays Katia Chernov. The lineup also includes Goran Kostic (Canary Black, Ant-Man and the Wasp) as Alexi Chernov and Samuel Barnett (Lee) as Jerry.
Directing duties for the new season fall to Julian Farino (Amadeus, Giri/Haji) and Kieron Hawkes (Red Eye, Fortitude), bringing more stylish energy to the thriller.
Netflix UK content chief Anne Mensah added, “To say we are overexcited about welcoming the Black Doves team back to Netflix would be an understatement. This is what happens when best-in-class writing meets best-in-class directing and extraordinary acting in a dark alley with guns and champagne. We couldn’t be more thrilled, and we know the Black Doves fandom is waiting!”
Filming is underway now, setting the stage for another round of espionage, political manoeuvring and explosive character drama.
‘Black Doves‘ Season 2 does not yet have a premiere date, but will air on Netflix in the UK and worldwide. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you will be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
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