BRUSSELS — Gillian Anderson is to play a police detective pursuing a serial killer across Northern Ireland in BBC miniseries “The Fall.”

The five-episode skein is due to begin shooting in Belfast at the end of March. It should air on BBC2 later this year or in early 2013.

The BBC confirmed Anderson would play the lead role. It plans to announce full casting on Monday.

“The Fall” is written by Alan Cubitt and produced by Gub Neal of Artists Studio. Both have form in the “Prime Suspect” franchise as well as other Brit crime drama.

Series will be directed by Jakob Verbruggen, a young Flemish helmer who has made a name for himself locally with TV crime series “Code 37,” also featuring a strong female cop.

The spin-off movie, which he also directed, was one of the top domestic earners in 2011.

Anderson has been a regular in BBC costume dramas, most recently playing a gothic Miss Haversham in “Great Expectations.”