Archie Panjabi, Ciaran Hinds, Anna Chancellor join BBC's 'Shetland' for Season 3

LONDON, April 11 (UPI) -- Ciaran Hinds, Archie Panjabi and Anna Chancellor have joined the cast of Shetland for the police drama's third season, the BBC announced.

The trio will star alongside series regulars Douglas Henshall, Alison O'Donnell, Steven Robertson, Julie Graham and Mark Bonnar in the six-part, third season. Based on Ann Cleeves' acclaimed crime novels, the program centers on the cases of Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez.

Season 3 has already begun shooting in Scotland and is expected to wrap this summer.

"I'm looking forward to locking swords with Douglas Henshall and working against the stunning backdrop of Shetland," Hinds said in a statement. "I came to Scotland a lot in the 1970s and '80s in various theater productions and, of course, to film Hallam Foe, but this is the furthest I've ever been."

"Shetland has a magnificent core cast led by Douglas Henshall. In our third series, this time telling one story over six hours, our regulars will be joined by a wonderful group of prominent and talented actors who we feel sure have been attracted by some really exciting scripts," added Elaine Collins, executive producer for ITV Studios.