Virgin Media’s Irish crime thriller show confirmed to be not returning for season 2

'We're happy with where it is. As a one-season, it worked,' its creator told JOE.

Darklands starred Dane Whyte O'Hara as a young MMA fighter who dreams of escaping his tough neighbourhood in Wicklow. Nevertheless, the teen is drawn into a dangerous world of drug gangs and violence when his brother goes missing.

Alongside O'Hara, the show's ensemble cast included Aisling Kearns (Barber), Alisha Weir (Abigail), Judith Roddy (Say Nothing), Luke McQuillan (Dublin Narcos), Mark O'Halloran (Adam & Paul) and Thommas Kane Byrne (Kin).

Created by writer-director Mark O'Connor - best known for his crime thriller movies Cardboard Gangsters and King of the Travellers - Darklands was praised upon release, with some critics even comparing it to Love/Hate.

The series was in the news again recently. This is as O'Connor re-teamed with McQuillan and O'Hara for his latest film, Amongst the Wolves, which was released in Irish cinemas this month on 2 May.

Ahead of Amongst the Wolves' arrival in theatres, JOE spoke to O'Connor and McQuillan about the movie. You can read their comments here.

But given that the 2025 movie saw the pair collaborating again, we had to ask if there was any chance of a season two of Darklands.

However, O'Connor had bad news for fans, stating: "No, Darklands is not coming back unfortunately. We did have season two written, and it would have suited the evolution of the character. It was a metamorphosis of that character.

"But we're happy with where it is. As a one-season, it worked as well."

O'Connor does credit Darklands with introducing him to McQuillan and O'Hara, who he considers part of a wave of great Irish actors.

On this, he says: "I think we've developed a great crew of actors over the years. Luke and Dane and Peter Coonan, and John [Connors]. There's just so much talent in the country at the moment. Incredible talent.

"And lots of other actors that I haven't worked with that are brilliant Irish actors as well," with O'Connor going on to cite Michael Fassbender as someone he would love to work with in the future.

During the interview with JOE, O'Connor and McQuillan also spoke about their next projects.

While the former has plans to make a movie about folk band The Dubliners at some point, his next film will be a change of pace for him as it is set outside of Ireland.

"Next for me would be a comedy set in the south of France. I'm hoping to get that off the ground and make that," O'Connor says, adding that its title is Oui Cannes.

As for McQuillan, he tells JOE: "I'm just writing another crime film called Raptor. It's about a hitman who works for a crime boss called Mulligan, and it's another revenge crime thriller.

"I've got a first draft done, so we would need a bit of money to make it.

"I was actually just talking to Mark about it. We'd look to get funding, but if we don't get funding, I'll still make it this year, hopefully."

You can also read O'Connor's comments about working with a very young Barry Keoghan on his first three movies here.

Amongst the Wolves was released in Irish cinemas on Friday, 2 May.