*This article contains spoilers for Series 2 of Marcella.*
After a palpitation and sweats-inducing Series 2 of Marcella, we're not sure if we're prepared for another stressful series yet.
But ready or not, it's well on its way with filming taking place this year. Brace yourselves.
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Here's everything we know about the upcoming third instalment...
When is Series 3 of Marcella coming?
There is no set release date for the show just yet, but it went into production in March 2019 and Anna Friel who plays lead role of DS Marcella Backland was tweeting about being on set in April and June this year in Belfast, so it's well under way.
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By the looks of her tweet, she was not yet accustomed to the Irish weather.
It read: "It's raining like cats and dogs. Belfast I love ya #marcella #itv #netflix how can we shoot in this?? #aproducersnightmare".
However, the wait for next instalment might not be over for a while yet.
Season 2 was announced on 26th August 2016 and didn't end up airing until February 2018. If it follows a similar schedule, we cannot expect Series 3 to land until autumn 2020.
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What will be the plot of Series 3 of Marcella?
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It will likely further explore Marcella's mental health issues - not surprising given Series 2 ended so darkly.
We will never be able to remove the image from our minds of Marcella attacking herself with scissors after realising she is the reason her baby daughter Juliette died.
It will likely no longer be about the fight for custody of her children that we've seen in other seasons, seeing as she handed over full custody to her ex Jason (Nicholas Pinnock) at the end of Season 2, on discovering the real reason for her daughter's death.
It will however see Marcella take on a new identity. In the series finale of Season 2, we watched as a man, Frank Young, (who turns out to be an undercover police handler), told a now homeless Marcella about a fire in a nearby building.
He said: "There was a fire nine days ago. I don't know if you heard anything about it? An abandoned house over in Welworth. Well, it was supposed to be abandoned. A number of homeless people, immigrants were squatting there. Three people died.
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"The bodies were so badly burned, they had to use DNA to identify them. Couldn't match two of them, but they were able to identify the third. Marcella Backland. DS Marcella Backland.
"For some reason there's been a mixup with the DNA. So now, you're dead! The department I work for could use a dead police officer to go undercover. What do you say?"
This conversation will lead Marcella in Series 3 to head to Belfast for an undercover operation.
The eight-part drama will see her re-named as Keira and attempt to infiltrate the infamous criminal family, the Maguires.
ITV said of Series 3: "Following on from the dramatic conclusion of the previous series, the new eight-parter sees Marcella in Belfast as an undercover detective.
"She has taken on a new identity, Keira, and has infiltrated the infamous Maguire crime family.
"But as she investigates their activities, questions come to the fore about how much she's embraced the Keira personality and left Marcella behind.
"As she inhabits the character of Keira, Marcella's quest for the truth puts her in danger and others in harm's way. Her undercover role makes her take risks, but will her old life eventually catch up with her?"
Which actors will return for Marcella Season 3?
Naturally, Anna Friel will return as the lead role Marcella, however it is unconfirmed whether original cast members such as DI Rev Sangha (Ray Panthaki), DCI Tim Williamson (Jamie Barber), Jason Backland (Nicholas Pinnock) and DC LeAnn Hunter (Sophia Brown) will return.
Actor and executive producer Anna Friel said of the new series: "I'm absolutely delighted to be taking on the role of Marcella again and am very grateful to ITV and Netflix for giving me the chance to delve into her unsettled world once more.
"Everyone has been so supportive of the show and I am loving being so widely welcomed by the great city of Belfast. I can't wait for the viewers to see what this series has in store."
Who is joining the cast of Marcella for Series 3?
Joining the season will be undercover handler, Frank Young, played by Hugo Speer, who we briefly met at the end of the last season, Eugene O'Hare who will play a local police officer, and Amanda Burton (Waterloo Road) as head of the Maguire family, Katherine, who will be joined by Aaron McCusker, Kelly Gough and Martin McCann as other Maguire family members.
Where will Marcella Series 3 be shown?
Season 3 will air on ITV first, but we expect later it will be available on Netflix or Amazon Prime. Netflix offered season 1 up to its subscribers whilst Prime has both the past two seasons on its network.
We might still have a while to wait yet for Series 3, but we have no doubts it'll be as intense as ever. We're mentally preparing as we speak.
Featured Image Credit: ITVTopics: TV and Film, TV Entertainment
