Delightfully unhinged could be just one way to describe the status of ITV crime drama, Marcella, at the end of its next series. What had begun as the straightforward story of a detective (Anna Friel) using a rare neurological condition that left her blackout for prolonged amnesiac periods, thereby becoming a suspect in the murders she was exploring, ended up… weird.
Bizarre. Pleasingly so. By the end of series two, Marcella was no more a working mum and a maverick cop, she was… well, spoilers.
The latest show three sound was heard just out of Anna Friel’s Twitter account, which reposted this striking image of the detective formerly known as DS Backland before Christmas and new’do.
With show two spoilers below, here is what we know so far about what the creators of the show have cooked up for us.
Marcella Season 3 — The Geek Lowdown
How many series are there? Two aired, one in manufacturing
Renewed or canceled? Renewed for string three at October 2018
Next series air date supported? Not yet, but expected at fall 2020
Where to watch? ITV1
Produced by: Hans Rosenfeldt, founder of The Bridge, and Nicola Larder.
“Following on from the stunning end of the former series, the new eight-parter sees Marcella from Belfast as an undercover detective. She’s taken on a new identity also has infiltrated the infamous Maguire crime family but questions come to the fore how much she’s embraced the Keira personality and abandoned Marcella behind as she investigates their actions.
In true Marcella style, the show contains interweaving storylines with strands focusing upon the Maguires’ criminal surgeries. Marcella’s quest for the truth puts her at risk and others in harm’s way, as she inhabits Keira’s character. Her undercover role makes her take risks, but will her old lifestyle eventually catch up with her?”
Marcella Season 3: Just how many episodes?
As usual, there will be eight episodes in series three. The first two have been written by co-creator Hans Rosenfeldt, who storyline the rest of the series. Episodes three to eight were written Rachel Flowerday by David Allison, Mike Walden, Matthew Thomas, and Tim Loane.
Gilles Bannier directed the first four episodes, with Ashley Pearce directing the final four.
Marcella Season 3 cast: Hugo Speer and Amanda Burton join cast
Confirmed as returning alongside Anna Friel is Ray Panthaki, that performs Marcella’s colleague Detective Inspector Rav Sangha. Last wielding the lid of a toilet cistern, we can expect Rav to wake up with more than a couple of questions for our lead.
And remember the glimpse we saw of The Musketeers’ Hugo Speer at the series two finales playing Frank Young, the man who coached Marcella to his undercover detective unit? Speer is back having a significant function in the show. He is joined by Silent Witness’ Amanda Burton playing with Katherine Maguire, the matriarch of this Belfast offense family Marcella infiltrates as part of her investigation.
Also in the cast are Glen Wallace, Kelly Gough, Martin McCann, Eugene O’Hare, Michael Colgan, Paul Kennedy, and Aaron McCusker.
Marcella Season 3 filming locations: production moves into Belfast
With financing in Northern Ireland, Screen series three was filmed entirely on location in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during summer 2019 and spring.
Marcella Season 3 release date: pushed back to autumn 2020
There’s no word yet on a genuine release date for the ITV series, but Anna Friel confirmed on Twitter in April the episodes are pushed back to fall of this year due to the Coronavirus. The past two runs began broadcasting in April 2016 and February 2018.
