AMC's "The Killing" isn't dead yet.
The drama has been renewed for a third season, the network and Fox Television studios, which produces the series, said Tuesday.
Veena Sud will return as showrunner, writer and executive producer for the 12-episode season, as will actors Mirielle Enos (who plays Sarah Linden) and Joel Kinnaman (Stephen Holder).
The new season, which begins production Feb. 25 in Vancouver, will focus on a new case, which will be resolved by the end of the season.
“‘The Killing’ from day one has been a truly original take on the crime drama. Veena Sud and the rest of the talented creative team are hard at work shaping the lives of Linden and Holder, portrayed by the terrific Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman," AMC president Charlie Collier said of the renewal. "We're so pleased to welcome back 'The Killing' for another season."
The new season of "The Killing" will pick up a year after Rosie Larsen's murder case -- which dominated the first two seasons -- is closed, with Linden no longer a detective but finding herself drawn back into the world of crime-solving when her partner's search for a runaway girl leads him to discover a gruesome string of murders that connects to a previous murder investigation by Linden.
"The Killing" averaged 1.9 million total viewers over its first two seasons. However, the June 2012 second-season finale fell off in the ratings from its first season finale, drawing 1,9 million total viewers compared to the 2.3 million that tuned in to the series' Season Two finale.
AMC initially decided to pull the plug on the show a month after its second season ended.
"After much deliberation, we've come to the difficult decision not to renew ‘The Killing’ for a third season," the network said at the time. "AMC is incredibly proud of the show and is fortunate to have worked with such a talented team on this project, from showrunner Veena Sud and our terrific partners at Fox Television Studios to the talented, dedicated crew and exceptional cast.”
