Shetland star looks worlds away from BBC series in Netflix's new Scottish crime drama
Mark Bonnar, who plays Cassie's biological father Duncan Hunter in the first seven series of Shetland, has landed an exciting new role.
The BBC star, who plays the flawed and somewhat hapless character in the Scottish crime show, is taking on an entirely new character.
Bonnar looks worlds away from Shetland's Duncan Hunter in his new role as Stephen Burns in Netflix's upcoming drama Department Q, which is set in Edinburgh.
The thrilling detective series follows the brilliant but flawed DCI Carl Morck, who heads up a new cold case unit.
In first look images, we see Burns looking very smartly dressed whilst casting a rather concerned look at another character with their back to the camera.
In Dept. Q, Stephen Burns is the Lord Advocate, which is the most senior law officer in Scotland.
Speaking about his character, Bonnar explained: 'He's wily, very self-assured and doesn't suffer fools gladly. He has made some mistakes - as you find out in the course of the show - which makes him a fascinating character.
'He was great fun to play, especially as he enjoys his high status and doesn't want to give any of it away to anybody, making him a great foil for a complete maverick like Carl Morck.'
Alongside Bonnar, Downton Abbey favourite Matthew Goode stars in the lead role of DCI Carl Morck.
Other cast members include The Queen's Gambit star Chloe Pirrie, Jack Ryan's, Alexej Manvelov, Line of Duty's Kelly Macdonald and Call the Midwife's Leah Byrne.
The official Netflix synopsis for Dept. Q reads: 'DCI Carl Morck is a brilliant cop but a terrible colleague. His razor-sharp sarcasm has made him no friends in Edinburgh Police.
'After a shooting that leaves a young PC dead, and his partner paralysed, he finds himself exiled to the basement and the sole member of Dept. Q; a newly formed cold case unit.
'The department is a PR stunt, there to distract the public from the failures of an under-resourced, failing police force that is glad to see the back of him.
'But more by accident than design, Carl starts to build a gang of waifs and strays who have everything to prove.
'So, when the stone-cold trail of a prominent civil servant who disappeared several years ago starts to heat up, Carl is back doing what he does best - rattling cages and refusing to take no for an answer.'
Meanwhile, fans are hoping for a new series of Shetland in late 2025, with season 9 airing back in November 2024.
The first seven series starred Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Pérez, while Ashley Jensen stars as DI Ruth Calder from season 8 onwards alongside Alison O'Donnell as DS Alison 'Tosh' McIntosh.
Department Q will premiere exclusively on Netflix on Thursday, May 29.
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