Robert Carlyle, the BAFTA-winning star of Trainspotting and The Full Monty, steps into Line of Duty’s seventh season as Detective Constable Shaun Massie. Filming begins this spring in Belfast for broadcast next year.

Massie serves as a gruff loner and veteran marksman with Tactical Operations Unit 7. His disciplined world unravels when his commanding officer, DI Dominic Gough, faces accusations of sexual predation. AC-12, now the Inspectorate of Police Standards, probes this high-stakes case.

Carlyle, 64, follows guest leads like Kelly Macdonald, Stephen Graham and Thandiwe Newton. The previous season’s 2021 finale drew more than 17 million viewers.

“Having been a huge admirer of Jed Mercurio’s work for many years, I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to join such an exceptional cast for series 7 of Line of Duty,” Carlyle said. “The scripts for the series are excellent and will absolutely maintain the quality that the audience have come to expect from this fantastic show. DC Massie is an extraordinary character and I look forward to bringing him to life.”

Jed Mercurio, the show’s creator, called Carlyle’s casting a career highlight. “On Line of Duty we’ve been honoured by the glittering guest leads who’ve joined the cast over the years,” Mercurio said. “We couldn’t be more thrilled that Robert Carlyle will star in series 7 as Specialist Rifle Officer Shaun Massie. I’ve been a huge fan of Robert’s work for many years and it will be a career highlight to work with him.”

Mercurio added that Carlyle “always brings mesmerising power and depth to every role.” Viewers can expect edge-of-the-seat tension around Massie’s next moves.

World Productions CEO Stephen Wright praised Carlyle’s legacy. “It’s one of the privileges of Line of Duty to have the opportunity to work with so many actors I’ve admired over the years,” Wright said. “As a young script editor starting out in the 90s, I was blown away by Robert’s stunning performances in Trainspotting and Cracker, so it’s a particular thrill to be working with him now.”

Line of Duty returns after a three-year gap. The anticorruption drama has built a massive following with its twists and procedural grit. Massie’s arrival promises to shake up the dynamic among Compston’s Steve Arnott, McClure’s Kate Fleming and Dunbar’s Ted Hastings.

Production ramps up soon in Northern Ireland. Fans await how Carlyle’s intense style fits the bent-copper thriller.