'Black Ops' Season 2 Announces Impressive Guest Roster
Gbemisola Ikumelo as Dom and Hammed Animashaun as Kay in 'Black Ops' Season 1
BBC/BBC Studios/James Stack
Hulu's announcement that it was scooping up the wildly funny BBC breakout hit Black Ops came on the heels of the BBC confirming the show's return for a second season. Season 1 hasn't reached America yet (it's expected to debut in early spring); however, the series is already heading into production on the next round of episodes across the pond, with series creator Gbemisola Ikumelo (Roadkill) and co-star Hammed Animashaun (The Wheel of Time) returning to the world of MI-5.
Season 1 of Black Ops featured Ikumelo as Dom and Animashaun as Kay, a pair of police community support officers working in East London, who are recruited by the Military intelligence branch to help take down London's major criminal enterprises. The two agree that getting rid of drug-distributing gangs is best for their community, so they let themselves be talked into taking on the case.
However, neither of them is exactly the stuff undercover officers are made of, and their early attempts at convincing street-hardened hoodies they are on the level don't go well. That they survive is a miracle in and of itself, as is their Season 1 success; Season 2 will bring aboard new faces who convince them to go further. Even better, the show's hit status has landed the series several high-profile castings to take on those roles for the new season, though, regrettably, they're still stuck with Budget Idris Elba for now.
Here's the synopsis for the new season:
Season 2 kicks off with Dom and Kay now working for MI5. They may be in the world of espionage, but their jobs are decidedly unglamorous – not everyone can be James Bond; someone has to do the admin. All that changes when Dom meets a charismatic spy called Steve, offering the promise of more exciting, classified work. Dom and Kay soon find themselves embroiled in an escapade that tests their wits, their friendship, and their love of carnival to the limits.
Ikumelo and Animashaun return as the hapless Dom and Kay, who are just a little more "hap"ful this season, though honestly, just enough to be dangerous to themselves and others, with the aforementioned "Budget Idris Elba," Ariyon Bakare (His Dark Materials) as boss DI Clinton Blair and Akemnji Ndifornyen (Leonardo) who returns as their nemesis, gang boss Tevin. Season 2 will introduce a new roster for the new undercover case, with Tom Stourton (Dreaming Whilst Black), Nigel Havers (Downton Abbey), Annette Badland (D.I. Ray), Ed Speleers (Wolf Hall), and Cathy Tyson (Criminal Record).
The series is created and executive produced by Gbemisola Ikumelo and Akemnji Ndifornyen, who co-wrote all episodes with Joe Tucker and Lloyd Woolf. Director Ben Gregor helmed all episodes. Ikumelo, Ndifornyen, Tucker, and Woolf executive produce alongside Josh Cole for BBC Studios.
Black Ops Season 1 will premiere on Hulu in the spring of 2025; Season 2 is expected to arrive on the BBC in late 2025 or early 2026.
