As the premiere of season 3 of Ray Donovan approaches, a whole lot more is known about the next chapter.

Hank Azaria's Ed Returning For Season 3?

In the latest news about the season: details about Skyler Shaye's role in the series. Shaye revealed that she is set to play a prostitute in the Showtime series. "I play a hooker. It's like playing dress up," she said. "I play a lovable, good hooker."

The most recent addition to the guest star lineup is Stephanie Erb, most known for her work on Weeds. Deadline reports that Erbhas signed on for three episodes in the upcoming chapter. She will be playing the part of Helen Miller, who is the head of the Fish and Games department according to the report. There's no telling if she will make for a client of Ray's (Liev Schreiber) or play an impediment for him.

Footage of some of Paige's moments from the next chapter are interspersed with Holmes talking about the nature and role of her character. Another new character on the series will be Paige's father, Andrew Finney, played by Ian McShane. Ray assists Andrew in his dealings, and Paige is frustrated about her stunted role in the family business. Sparks of the friction between her and her father are seen in the footage shown in the clip, which was revealed by People.

"Paige is a complicated business woman struggling to find her own power within her family," Holmes says. The character will want to employ Ray for her own purposes and things will get ugly. "Paige gets tangled up with Ray in her business dealings," she adds.

Season 3 will be hitting screens on July 12 at 9 p.m. on Showtime, and this time around the series is coming back with a bevy of new faces.

Mad Men's Aaron Staton will be playing Dr. Donellen, a complex high school teacher, who has something of a tragic past and will be the kind who uses tough love with his students. Other guest stars include The Bold and the Beautiful alum Jack Wagner, playing the part of Sandy Patrick, "an obnoxious and self-important game show host." It was previously reported that Cheryl Ladd, best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the Charlie's Angels TV series, will also be guest starring and according to Variety, Wagner and Ladd will be sharing screen time. Ladd is also set to portray a game show hostess, Tina Harvey. Both have been cast opposite each other for their character arcs.

Season 3 is set to run for 12 episodes. What is important to take into consideration is that Ann Biderman, the writer of the series up until now also recently stepped down.

This will definitely impact the series in some ways, as Biderman's distinctive imprint will be missing from the Showtime series. So on some level, fans might be in for a different take on things as, at the end of the day, the writing defines any show.

But the transition will be easy. The writer and producer won't be completely vanishing, she will continue with Ray Donovan in the role of a creative consultant.

The producers are in talks with writer and executive producer David Hollander to take Biderman's position.

In a recent interview, Schrieber talked about working on the show and dished a bit about what fans can expect from season 3.

Speaking to Variety, the actor answered questions about his experience playing Ray and what his hopes for his character were.

When asked about the fate of his and Abby's (Paula Malcomson) marriage, Schreiber seemed rather optimistic, not in the way that things would be hunky dory, but at least that the couple would stick out through thick and thin. The question seems pertinent as Ray and Abby's marriage was really tested in the second season, and both were having affairs on the side.

"Ray is the kind of person who would die for his family," Schreiber said. "I don't know that his marriage can ever truly be over. As bad as it gets, as bad as he behaves, he'll never be able to separate himself from it. Whether or not they're living under the same roof, he'll always be married to Abby."

Speaking to E! Online, Malcomson stated that Abby will be more defined in her role as the head of the family in the next chapter of the Showtime series.

"There will be more of the same madness but Abby sort of starts to have her own agenda in a really big way because we can't have her nagging Ray any longer," Malcomson said. "I think she's going to take care of family matters and Ray takes care of the business. So we get to see more of the matriarch."

In the same interview she also hinted at the fact that her boyfriend, Jim (Brian Geraghty), whom she had an affair with in season 2, might also return.

Watch a teaser:

Tags
Ray Donovan, Showtime, Television