AMC renews Art Detectives, sets new season release window
One of Acorn TV’s breakout crime dramas fronted by a True Blood favourite has been renewed by AMC, with filming already underway in Belfast.
Here we go again: Art Detectives is officially coming back for a second season after making serious waves on Acorn TV. It’s not every day that a crime drama about high-stakes art theft grabs this much attention, but the first series did just that—mixing murder mysteries with stolen masterpieces and chucking in a dash of historical intrigue for good measure.
At launch, Art Detectives became Acorn TV’s most-watched new series premiere ever.
Filming for the new run is already ticking along in Belfast and locations across Northern Ireland, in case you were wondering how quickly they’re getting stuck into it. No delays or endless “in development” limbo for this lot.
What’s Facing Palmer and Malik?
For anyone not plugged into the first series: Stephen Moyer (you might remember him from True Blood) leads the cast as DI Mick Palmer, with Nina Singh alongside him as DC Shazia Malik. They form the backbone of the Heritage Crime Unit, a specialist crew focused on investigating murders and robberies in the world of pricey artwork, old antiques, and lost artefacts.
Season 2 will see both actors stepping back into familiar territory—yes, that means Moyer and Singh are back in their roles, joined again by Larry Lamb as Ron Palmer. The directing is split between Declan Recks and Jennie Paddon, with Moyer wearing an extra hat as executive producer. Apparently, the job suits him.
Release Plans and What to Expect
Acorn TV isn’t messing around with this release plan—Season 2 kicks off with a two-part special slotted for December 2026, followed by a proper six-episode run in 2027. If you’re counting, that’s eight fresh episodes heading your way and not too much of a wait before they start rolling out.
The network is also keen to remind you that these returning episodes aren’t just business as usual. Expect more thefts, more high-stakes cases, and perhaps a few more battered satchels for DI Palmer, who seems to carry his trauma in both his expression and his luggage.
Stephen Moyer himself sounded every bit the enthusiast when talking about coming back, saying this about the new series and his on-screen partnership:
‘Great art, rare antiques, expensive collections and a battered satchel – what’s not to love about Mick Palmer? I’m really looking forward to filming these eight new episodes and reuniting with the brilliant Nina Singh. This new season is packed with drama, excitement, tension and surprises.’
Worth noting, Art Detectives currently sits at 89% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, so it’s not just the audience catching on—it’s got some acclaim in its back pocket as well. With shooting already underway, the wait for what DI Palmer and DC Malik tackle next won’t be a long one.