Investigation Underway Following Tragedy on Set
An investigation is underway after a crew member working on the Netflix series Dept. Q died following an incident at FirstStage Studios in Edinburgh on November 12, 2026. Emergency services were called to the facility in the Leith area at approximately 3:00 p.m. local time following reports of a seriously injured man. Despite the intervention of emergency crews, the man was pronounced dead at the scene shortly afterward. E! Online reported that production company Left Bank Pictures confirmed the individual was part of the show’s crew.
Police Scotland stated that the death is not currently being treated as suspicious, though inquiries into the full circumstances remain active and ongoing. Additionally, the Health and Safety Executive confirmed it is aware of the incident, placing regulatory focus on the industrial premises. The tragedy has cast a shadow over the high-profile British production, which features an ensemble cast including Matthew Goode, Leah Byrne, Jamie Sives, and Alexej Manvelov, and adapts the acclaimed detective novels by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen.
Production Response and Studio Background
Left Bank Pictures, the British production company behind major television hits such as The Crown and Outlander, issued a formal statement expressing grief over the loss. A spokesperson for Left Bank Pictures told BBC News that the team was deeply shocked and saddened by the tragedy, noting that their immediate focus is on supporting the family, friends, and colleagues affected by the event. Netflix referred all requests for comment regarding the incident back to the production company.
The incident occurred at FirstStage Studios, located in a former industrial warehouse unit in Leith. The facility was established in 2020 by Jason Connery—son of the late actor Sean Connery—with initial setup investment backed by Screen Scotland. The complex features five sound stages and extensive production office space. Over recent years, the site has served as a major production hub in Scotland, hosting various high-profile projects including Amazon’s supernatural thriller series The Rig and partial location work for Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War.
Context of Prior Incidents at the Studio
The November 2026 incident marks the second time in recent years that a fatality has been recorded at the Edinburgh film studio. In 2022, a contractor named Philip Ross died while on site at FirstStage Studios during production operations. That earlier fatality remains the subject of an ongoing Fatal Accident Inquiry by local Scottish authorities to determine underlying safety failings or procedural improvements required at the site.
FirstStage Studios issued a statement at the time of the 2022 incident expressing devastation over the contractor’s death and confirming full cooperation with investigative authorities. The recurrence of a fatal incident at the same studio facility has brought renewed attention to industrial safety standards across Scottish production spaces, even as investigators work to clarify the exact sequence of events that led to the November 12 tragedy.
Next Steps and Regulatory Oversight
As Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive continue their respective inquiries, production activities on the second season of Dept. Q face heightened scrutiny. The series enjoyed significant commercial and critical success following its debut in May 2025, climbing international streaming charts. However, the latest developments ensure that institutional accountability, workplace safety protocols, and regulatory oversight will remain central fixtures of the ongoing investigation into the studio premises.