Tom Hardy’s One-Season Crime Masterpiece Is Back on Charts 9 Years Later

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Published Feb 11, 2026, 4:58 PM EST

Makuochi Echebiri is a News Writer for Collider. He has been interested in creative writing from as far back as high school, and he would consume pretty much anything that’s film or TV. However, his truest love lies in the presence of historical epics and thrillers.

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Few actors have balanced film and television as seamlessly as Tom Hardy. An Oscar-nominated performer with an enviable résumé, Hardy has consistently showcased his range on the small screen, though audiences tend to gravitate toward his grittier roles. His latest crime series, MobLand, has kept viewers hooked and firmly planted on the streaming charts as anticipation builds for a second season. But beyond the buzzy crime drama often hailed as a rival to Taylor Sheridan’s Tulsa King, Hardy has another equally compelling one-season crime series produced by Ridley Scott, which has quietly surged back into the streaming spotlight, nine years after its debut.

Hardy’s working relationship with Scott dates back to the 2001 war epic Black Hawk Down, which marked the actor’s feature film debut. The ensemble blockbuster became a major success, hinting at bigger things to come for the Hardy–Scott partnership. While their next significant collaboration wouldn’t arrive for more than a decade, it proved well worth the wait. The duo reunited for Taboo, a dark period crime drama steeped in fictionalized history that quickly proved a hit with audiences. Premiering on the BBC in 2017, the series earned strong reviews, landing a 76% critics’ score and an even more impressive 91% audience rating. The synopsis for the series reads:

"Adventurer James Keziah Delaney, long believed to be dead, returns home to London from Africa in 1814 in order to inherit his late father's shipping empire. All is not what it seems, however, as Delaney encounters numerous enemies intent on making his life back in the United Kingdom very difficult. Focused on building a shipping empire to rival the imperious East India Company, Delaney's other wish to seek vengeance for his father's death means conspiracy, betrayal and bloodshed are also in the cards. As he works to accomplish that, Delaney must also navigate increasingly complex territories in order to avoid his own death sentence."

Taboo’s Season 1 finale aired in February 2017, leaving audiences eager for more. A second season has long been promised, and while its arrival has taken far longer than expected, the show’s appeal remains remarkably strong nearly a decade later. In the U.S., Taboo is currently available to stream on platforms including Pluto TV, Tubi, and Peacock, and can also be purchased through digital storefronts such as Amazon and Apple TV. Its latest resurgence, however, has come via the latter, where the series has climbed the iTunes charts in France, ranking third among the most in-demand titles. It’s a powerful testament to the show’s enduring appeal, and to the sustained enthusiasm for its long-awaited continuation.

When Is 'Taboo' Season 2 Releasing?

Taboo was officially renewed for a second season in March 2017, but the follow-up was unfortunately pushed to the back burner as Hardy turned his focus to other projects, particularly the Venom movies. While the actor remains as busy as ever, with upcoming projects including Netflix’s War Party and another collaboration with Ridley Scott, there are signs that Taboo Season 2 is finally gaining momentum. Series creator Steven Knight recently revealed that he and Hardy have resumed discussions about the long-awaited continuation, saying, "Well, Tom and I have talked about it, and I think we know what we would do." He added, "It’s just finding the space. But I'd love to, I get asked about it – especially in the States, actually – I get asked about it a lot."

Hardy co-created Taboo alongside his father, Chips Hardy, and Knight. Season 1, which boasts an Emmy nomination, also featured performances from Jessie Buckley, Oona Chaplin, Stephen Graham, and Jonathan Pryce. Taboo Season 2 has no release date yet. Stay tuned for future updates.