Line of Duty is one of the most popular series ever filmed in Northern Ireland, with production of the British crime drama taking place here from the second series until it concluded with its sixth. The finale in 2021 was supposed to be the end of the modern British TV classic, but now it's confirmed to be returning in 2027.

Northern Ireland's screen industry has been growing steadily over the last few decades, and now this huge BBC offering will shine a light on it once again. Hopefully it will return for many years, and encourage other large productions to film here.

Key Cast Members Will Return

When Line of Duty ended in 2021, it was not expected to return, as it had concluded its long-running storyline about the corrupt criminal mastermind known as H. However, Jed Mercurio's show was so popular that there have been calls for it to return for years.

It has been reported that Line of Duty will be back for its seventh season next year, but it seems likely that this will start with a fresh storyline. It won't be a full factory reset, however, as the key cast members who made it so special are all coming back. Adrian Dunbar, Martin Compston, and Vicky McClure will all be reprising their roles as members of AC-12. Each series traditionally has a major actor join them, with Robert Carlyle taking on the part of the guest lead. He follows on from various other great performers over the years, including Thandie Newton and Stephen Graham. Thanks to his Hollywood fame, the 65-year-old will be a huge draw.

Enormous Franchise Potential

Many fans will be hoping that Line of Duty's return marks the start of a new era, and that there will be many more series to follow. With the BBC now challenging streaming services for attention and viewers faced with a plethora of series to choose from, it would make a lot of sense to amplify Line of Duty's potential by expanding the franchise in new ways.




One way it could do this would be to mirror what Game of Thrones did. The fantasy offering was also filmed in Northern Ireland, and despite finishing before Line of Duty, its legacy lives on today. This is thanks to expansion into related games, such as the Game of Thrones casino slot machines online. There have also been spinoffs, which have helped attract more people to the franchise. Line of Duty could easily do the same thing, and the creators could look into exploring different characters and settings.

Belfast Can Strengthen Its Reputation as a Filming Hub

Northern Ireland has already proved that it can host major international productions, with Game of Thrones being the most famous example. It has continued to build its reputation since then, and now Line of Duty's new series will add to that momentum.

With the high-profile casting of Carlyle, it feels like a massive event, and could be exactly what the series needs to attract widespread attention. It will also inspire other productions to consider Northern Ireland as a place to shoot.

The screen industry here is already getting the respect it deserves, but this new series will draw even more attention to Northern Ireland. Hopefully, Line of Duty will run for many more years and expand into a wider franchise.