Will ‘Zmora’ Season 2 Happen on HBO Max? What We Know So Far
European crime fiction has enjoyed a remarkable renaissance across international streaming platforms, with moody Central European noir capturing global audiences. Subdued cinematography, intricate multi-decade timelines, and profound psychological exploration have established a distinct visual language for crime stories originating from the region. The debut of ‘Zmora’—released internationally under the localized title ‘The Torment’—marks another ambitious venture in expanding prestigious, brooding European mysteries on HBO Max.
Produced in Poland by Opus TV alongside TVN Warner Bros. Discovery, the six-episode drama debuted on October 2, 2026, quickly climbing the streaming rankings. Directed by Łukasz Jaworski and scripted by Kacper Wysocki and Adam Guziński, the production transports viewers across three distinct eras in the historic city of Toruń. Audiences followed controversial investigative reporter Kama Kossowska, portrayed by Magdalena Cielecka, as the reopening of a 30-year-old cold case unraveled painful generational secrets.
As the first season reaches its harrowing conclusion on November 6, 2026, subscribers are urgently questioning whether ‘Zmora’ will return for season two. At present, HBO Max has not yet issued an official renewal order for a sophomore run. The platform routinely monitors international viewership figures, completion rates, and regional subscriber engagement over several weeks following a season finale before making any formal announcements.
Robert Małecki Prepared a Source Material Sequel for Season 2
While many crime miniseries stall after a single run due to an absence of source material, ‘Zmora’ finds itself in a remarkably unique position. The inaugural season adapted the standalone 2021 novel written by acclaimed author Robert Małecki. However, creative conversations regarding a potential second season began well before the television series even reached subscriber screens.
During production meetings in central Poland, the creative team directly asked the author to craft an authentic literary continuation to ensure a future season had solid narrative ground. “When I was in Łódź a year ago meeting with the creators, we talked about whether there was a chance to continue this story—to prepare something in case the platform decided to shoot a second season,” Małecki revealed during an appearance on Polskie Radio. “For me, it was a closed story; I was not thinking about a continuation, but when the question was asked whether a continuation was possible, I thought: okay, hold my tea.”
That backstage development prompted Małecki to write and publish ‘Zmora. Czarna toń’ in late 2025 through Wydawnictwo Literackie. The sequel novel provides a complete, ready-made blueprint specifically designed to serve as the foundation for the television adaptation. Rather than fabricating a continuation from scratch, screenwriters Wysocki and Guziński already have a fully realized narrative roadmap waiting for adaptation.
What a Potential ‘Zmora’ Season 2 Storyline Would Explore
If HBO Max gives the green light to season two, the storyline will follow Kama as an accomplished investigative author who gets pulled into a complex new disappearance. The plot ignites when a desperate mother contacts Kama, claiming her daughter—a municipal clerk who vanished six years ago—suddenly tried to establish contact. Simultaneously, Toruń police commissioner Tomasz Korcz launches an urgent investigation into the sudden disappearance of a local university student.
The sequel deliberately balances the dramatic weight between the two lead investigators to expand the broader emotional canvas of the story. “I thought to myself that since Kama Kosowska is already burdened to the maximum and cannot bear any more trauma, we had to put the burden on the second protagonist of ‘Zmora’, Commissioner Lesław Korcz,” Małecki explained during a literary panel broadcast on Radio Lublin. This creative pivot would offer co-star Piotr Żurawski an even more central role alongside Cielecka in a potential second season.
Potential Cast and Projected Release Window
A prospective second season would naturally center on the return of Cielecka as Kama and Żurawski as Commissioner Korcz. While flashback sequences involving the older generation—featuring veterans such as Łukasz Simlat, Piotr Głowacki, and Dorota Kolak—concluded their primary arcs in the 1980s mystery, the new case would welcome fresh supporting talent. Behind the camera, director Jaworski would likely reteam with the original producing team at Opus TV to preserve the distinct atmospheric aesthetic.
Because HBO Max has not yet formally greenlit the continuation, production could not realistically commence until mid-2027 at the earliest. Taking into account screenwriting adaptations, extensive on-location filming in Toruń, and meticulous post-production work, ‘Zmora’ season two would likely target an early 2028 release. Viewership retention across European territories will determine whether the streamer orders another run, but the existing literary sequel gives the dark mystery an unmistakable path forward.
Share your thoughts in the comments below on whether HBO Max should renew ‘Zmora’ for season two and what you thought of the dramatic season finale.
