Line of Duty Season 7: Hit BBC procedural gets Robert Carlyle on board in key role - here's what we know

Line of Duty season 7 has landed a major new role for Robert Carlyle, who will take on the part of DC Shaun Massie. This is one of the biggest shakeups since the long-rumored revival of the cop amnesia procedural was confirmed, and it is a clear indication of the scale of the upcoming series.

Now, with AC-12 reimagined and the core three back together, the introduction of Carlyle indicates Season 7 will bring a fiery new dynamic running throughout the investigations. The BBC has described Carlyle’s casting in Line of Duty as a “key moment” for the next iteration of the series.

Here's what we know more about the same.

Line of Duty Season 7: Hit BBC procedural gets Robert Carlyle on board in key role

The production of Line of Duty is moving back to Belfast, with some familiar faces returning to the screen. Fans can anticipate a bit of continuity, as well as some new tensions, when the new series airs. Line of Duty returns with a big new addition to the cast.

As mentioned, Robert Carlyle has been cast in season 7 as Detective Constable Shaun Massie, a Specialist Rifle Officer (SRO) attached to Tactical Operations Unit 7. In information disclosed by the BBC, Massie is instrumental in an operation against organised crime groups, but the character’s backstory undergoes a dramatic twist.

Massie is a “gruff loner” who keeps to himself; however, when his boss, DI Dominic Gough, is brought down as a s*xual predator, Massie’s tightly wound exterior starts to crack. The accusation is said to make Massie’s generally unemotional demeanour drastically change, indicating that there will be moral turmoil, internal strife, and possibly divided loyalties.

According to a report by Digital Spy, Carlyle reacted to the news of his joining the show:

"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 also 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."

The BBC has hinted that they will be on their “most sensitive case yet in the new season, a tag line that suggests the series will continue with its institutional critiques and moral murk. Martin Compston, the star of Line of Duty, is also excited to again experience Belfast differently:

"I do like my waistcoats," he said. "That and I just like Belfast, it’s a great city to film in and [me, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar are] genuinely, really close pals... So getting to spend proper time with them again is a joy, but yeah, when you pull that waistcoat on in the morning, do that accent. Yeah, I can feel him creeping into me."

Here is what else we know about the upcoming season of Line of Duty

While the plot is being kept tightly under wraps, season 7 looks like it will focus on corruption in specialist armed policing units, a new direction beyond the usual AC-12 investigations. With organised crime, internal accusations, and institutional reform all at play, the narrative stakes are already high.

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Shaun Massie Carlyle’s Shaun Massie is not exactly a sidekick addition but a character whose own journey could become a thematic center point of the season. If he is going to be an ally, antagonist, or something more ambiguous.

One thing is certain: With the original trio back, a revamped anti-corruption unit, and Robert Carlyle joining the cast, Line of Duty series 7 could well give fans the tension, moral complexity, and headline-grabbing drama they’ve been craving.

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