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Mr Robot season 2 to tackle encryption debate

The Golden Globe-winning cyber hacking drama returns later this year

Jacob Stolworthy
Monday 14 March 2016 11:05 GMT
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Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson in 'Mr Robot'
Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson in 'Mr Robot'

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If you're yet to watch Mr Robot, allow us to give you a friendly prod to do so; what started out an intriguing drama about hacking fast evolved into a Matrix-style brainteaser about cyber terrorism. In the process, it became one of the most exciting shows to have emerged from last year's television season.

Little has been known about season two up until now: Deadline reports that it will tackle the extremely prevalent encryption and privacy debate.

Much in the same way as House of Cards, it seems Mr Robot is a TV show that's predicting future events before they occur; creator and lead writer Esmail purports to have presciently made this subject the basis of season two ahead of Apple's public fight with the FBI about access to private data.


Talking during a South by Southwest (SXSW) panel, Esmail said: “What’s weird is that we were really going into [Season 2] talking about encryption and privacy, and then this whole thing with Apple and [CEO] Tim Cook happened.”

Asked whether his series is a critique of technology within a modern society, Esmail - who is directing all ten episodes of the upcoming season - commented: “I don’t know if it’s to make commentary, but it’s to bring it up and have a conversation.”

Mr Robot stars Rami Malek, Christian Slater and Portia Doubleday. Comedy actor Craig Robinson (This Is the End) will join the cast in a recurring capacity.

The first season, which won a Golden Globe for Best Drama - TV back in January, is available to watch on Amazon Prime while season two will premiere in both the US and UK later this year with Esmail promising that it'll be "really f***ing dark."

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