Robert Carlyle will guest star in the seventh installment of Jed Mercurio’s hit BBC crime thriller Line of Duty.
The BAFTA-winning actor, known for his roles in Trainspotting, The Full Monty and 28 Weeks Later, will play police constable Sean Massey when filming begins on the series this spring. The new series, produced by World Productions for the BBC, will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer next year.
Carlyle will be the first new cast member to be announced for the upcoming series, joining Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar, who are returning to the series. He takes over notable guest leads including Kelly Macdonald, Stephen Graham, Thandiwe Newton, Daniel Mays, Keeley Hawes and Lennie James.
DC Sean Massey is a rifle specialist and veteran marksman assigned to Tactical Operations Unit 7 (TO-7), tasked with destroying organized crime groups. Portrayed as a self-effacing, surly loner, Massie’s cool demeanor changes dramatically when his commanding officer, DI Dominic Gough, is accused of being a sex offender.
In the new series, AC-12 is disbanded and renamed the Police Standards Bureau, and Steve Arnott, Kate Fleming and Ted Hastings take on their most sensitive cases yet in what is said to be an increasingly difficult environment for fighting corruption.
Carlyle said: “I’ve been a huge fan of Jed Mercurio’s work for many years, so I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to join such an outstanding cast in Series 7 of Line of Duty.” “The writing for the series is fantastic and absolutely maintains the quality that viewers have come to expect from this great show. DC Massey is an extraordinary character and we look forward to bringing him to life.”
Mercurio, who wrote and produced the series and directed episodes four through six, added: “Robert always brings a mesmerizing power and depth to every role he plays. Viewers will be on the edge of their seats wondering what his character will do next and why.”
Simon Heath, CEO and Creative Director of World Productions, said: “When I started editing scripts as a young man in the 90s, I was struck by Robert’s incredible performances in Trainspotting and Crackers, so it’s a special thrill to be working with him now.”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added: “Robert Carlyle is one of our great actors and is a perfect fit for the Line of Duty phenomenon.”
Jenny Darnell will direct the first three episodes, with Ken Horn serving as producer. The executive producers are Mercurio, Heath of World Productions, and Nick Lambon of the BBC. The series will once again be filmed in Belfast with support from Northern Ireland Screen. World Productions, part of ITV Studios, is handling international distribution.
Seasons 1-6 of Line of Duty are currently streaming on BBC iPlayer.
