The first official teaser for season 3 of Ray Donovan, is enticing but doesn't give too much away about the new plot or new characters. Enstars comes to the rescue to prime fans before the summer premiere.

Season 3 Will Not Be About The Donovan Family   

The teaser does offer a first look at one new character, Malcolm Finney played by Ian McShane. Finney is seen talking to Ray.

"Kafka once wrote that in a man's struggle against the world, bet on the world, you agree?" he dryly asks.

Behind-the-Scenes Stills Introducing New Character Revealed  

Ray curtly says, "No."

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.

One of the biggest draws in the next chapter will be cast addition Katie Holmes. The Daily Mail revealed that Holmes will be playing the part of Paige, a "wealthy and shrewd businesswoman who uses the 'fixer' services provided" by Ray Donovan (Liev Schreiber)." Paige will be the daughter of another new character, Andrew, who is a moneyed Hollywood producer. Ian McShane will play the role of Andrew.

The most recent addition to guest stars is Mad Men's Aaron Staton. The actor 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 someway, 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 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 Malcolmson) 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 the teaser:

Tags: Ray Donovan showtime television