From chess to unsolved crimes: 'The Queen's Gambit' creator returns with crime thriller series 'Dept Q' starring Matthew Goode | Netflix announces May 29 premiere date

Writer/director Scott Frank, who created the acclaimed Netflix limited series The Queen's Gambit, is back to long-form storytelling with Dept. Q — an investigative thriller series led by Matthew Goode (Watchmen, Abigail), who plays an eccentric detective named Carl Morck. Netflix has released the first trailer.

Set in Edinburgh, Scotland, Dept. Q is based on Danish novelist Jussi Adler-Olsen's books of the same name featuring Morck, a once-efficient English detective now grappling with the aftermath of a deadly event that caused two casualties.

The series marks Goode's second collaboration with Frank after 2007's The Lookout, Frank's directorial debut. On being drawn to the books, Frank told Netflix that the idea has been in his mind for over two decades — the idea of one man-led underground department dedicated to solving cold cases. Adler-Olsen's wish to have Frank strongly involved in the material came true when, out of the nine episodes, Frank directed six aside from doing sole writing and co-writing duties on all episodes.

Goode's portrayal of Morck is said to be peculiar, given how the character is still dealing with the tragic event's trauma when he returns to take charge of the titular department in the Scottish police force, a PR-dictated move to boost the image of the organisation. His new duties will take him to some dark, unforeseen corners.

Goode is joined by cast members Kate Dickie (The Day of the Jackal, Game of Thrones), Kelly Macdonald (No Country for Old Men, Trainspotting), Jamie Sives, Mark Bonnar, Mark Bonnar, Alexej Manvelov, Leah Byrne, and others.

Dept. Q will premiere globally on Netflix on May 29, 2025.

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