The Killing is officially back from the dead.  After we previously caught wind of the resurrection, it was announced today that the cancelled AMC series The Killing will return for a third season on the network, with Veena Sud back as executive producer/showrunner and stars Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman on tap to reprise their roles as Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder.  The new season picks up one year after the events of the season two finale, with a retired Linden pulled back into the job when her ex-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.” Hit the jump for more details.

The Killing drew harsh criticism when the central murder of the first season was extended through the second season, with resolution not coming until the season two finale. Presumably as a direct result of the reaction, it was announced that the new season three case will be resolved over the course of its 12 episodes.  As the new string of episodes focus on a new case, the characters portrayed by Billy Campbell (Mayor Richmond), Brent Sexton (Stan Larson), and Michelle Forbes (Mitch Larson) will not be returning. Production begins next month in Vancouver, but no airdate has been set.  One assumes we might see The Killing back on AMC later this fall.

Here’s the press release:

New York, NY – January 15, 2013 – AMC and Fox Television Studios (FTVS) announced today a new deal which will return “The Killing” to AMC for a third season. As part of the deal, Veena Sud returns as executive producer, writer and showrunner along with actors Mireille Enos (Sarah Linden) and Joel Kinnaman (Stephen Holder). Season three will focus on a new case, which will be resolved over the course of 12 episodes. Production on season three begins February 25th in Vancouver.

“‘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," said Charlie Collier, AMC’s president. "We're so pleased to welcome back 'The Killing' for another season."

Fox TV Studios President, David Madden, said, “We have always believed in 'The Killing' and remain extremely proud of it, which is why we all worked so hard to find a scenario that could give it new life.”

“I couldn’t be happier to know that I will be returning to work with AMC, FTVS and Mireille and Joel on what is and has always been a passion project for me. To the fans that have supported the series, thank you for doing so. My team and I will work hard to deliver the best story that we can for season three,” said Veena Sud.

A year after closing the Rosie Larsen case, Sarah Linden is no longer a detective. But when her ex-partner Stephen Holder's search for a runaway girl leads him to discover a gruesome string of murders that connects to a previous murder investigation by Linden, she is drawn back into the life she thought she'd left behind.

“The Killing” is produced by Fox Television Studios and executive produced by Mikkel Bondesen for Bondesen Productions. Kristen Campo serves as co-executive producer.

The series premiered on AMC Sunday, April 3, 2011, with season two premiering Sunday, April 1, 2012. The Killing averaged 1.9 million viewers over the 2 seasons.

AMC’s Joel Stillerman, executive vice president of original programming, production and digital content, Susie Fitzgerald, senior vice president of scripted development and current programming and Jason Fisher, senior vice president of production oversee production of the series for the network.