Production has begun on season 6 of Strike Back, and the long-running action series has added Battlestar Galactica alum Jamie Bamber to the cast as the new commanding officer of Section 20. The series is coming off its first season with a brand new cast that replaced outgoing actors Sullivan Stapleton and Philip Winchester, who had led the series since it premiered on Cinemax after its first season on Sky. 

Needless to say, the series is no stranger to changes in the cast, as the show has not only adapted well to shifting its leading characters around, but it almost always features some shift in the supporting cast with each new season. This time around, the core group is staying roughly the same, with Warren Brown, Daniel MacPherson, and Alin Sumarwata holding their positions, as Bamber and fellow newcomer Yasemin Allen have been added to the squad. 

More: The Americans Series Finale: The Showrunners Explain Those Paintings & Elizabeth’s Dream

The announcement was made today via a press release from Cinemax intended not only to announce the casting of Bamber, but also to confirm that filming on the new season is officially underway in Malaysia. You can read a full synopsis of the new season below:

Daniel McPherson, Warren Brown, Alin Sumarwata, Roxanne McKee Strike Back

“When a Russian bomber crashes in the South China Sea, the covert special-ops soldiers of Section 20 — Thomas “Mac” McAllister (Warren Brown), Samuel Wyatt (Daniel MacPherson) and Gracie Novin (Alin Sumarwata) — are sent on a mission to investigate. There, they cross paths with Katrina Zarkova (Yasemin Allen), a rogue Russian operative with questionable loyalties.

Under orders of the new commanding officer, Col. Alexander Coltrane (Jamie Bamber), Section 20 pursues stolen contents of the Russian jet across Southeast Asia. They will work alongside the Malaysian police to shut down a Triad gang in Kuala Lumpur, uncover a corrupt plot by a wealthy Indian businesswoman running for Parliament and plunge into the jungles of the Golden Triangle in Myanmar, facing off against mercenary drug agents and terrifying warlords, as they uncover a conspiracy that threatens to push the world to the brink of global conflict.”

From the synopsis, Strike Back season 6 will take a slightly different approach to its global adventure, eschewing the usual focus on anti-terrorism efforts to tell a story that delves into the seedy world of the drug trade, gangs, and, presumably, Russian military shenanigans. Though it doesn’t offer much detail about Bamber’s Coltrane, it’s probably a good idea for fans to keep an eye on him. Section 20 hasn’t had much luck with it’s new commanding officers, as the turnover rate has been incredibly high. Besides, Coltrane has some big shoes to fill, as fans will likely see how he measures up against Robson Green’s Lt. Col. Philip Locke. Here’s hoping Bamber’s Coltrane is up to the challenge. 

Next: The Americans Series Finale Review: A Tense, Powerful End To One Of TV’s Best

Strike Back season 6 is expected on Cinemax in 2019.