JERUSALEM (JTA) — Filming on a new American drama series, “Dig,” began in Jerusalem.

The cast and crew of the NBC Universal television series arrived in Jerusalem at the beginning of the week. The cast includes actors Jason Isaacs and Anne Heche. The show is scheduled to be aired at the end of the year.

The series will be produced by Gideon Raff, screenwriter of the Israeli series “Hatufim,” which is aired in the United States as “Homeland” and co-written by “Heroes” writer Tim Kring, a co-creator of “Homeland.”

The series deals with an American FBI agent stationed in Jerusalem who uncovers a conspiracy while investigating the murder of an American archaeologist.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat raised hackles late last year when he announced that filming for the series would center on City of David national park located in the Silwan neighborhood. Silwan has been a flashpoint in Israeli-Palestinian relations in Jerusalem, where 400 Jews live among 31,000 Palestinians. The network later denied that it planned to film in eastern Jerusalem.

Cory Shields, executive vice president for communications for NBCUniversal, wrote Dec. 20, 2013, in a letter to the PLO General Delegation to the U.S., “There was no plan made to film the series in the City of David National Park or in the village of Silwan, furthermore, location scouting and planning will not begin until February 2014, and any decisions regarding possible production sites will be made with respect for all concerned parties.”