Could the original True Detective make a comeback? Here's everything we know about a potential True Detective Season 3.
Editor's note: This article is our news hub for True Detective Season 3. Information will be updated to reflect new reports.
While we’re waiting for HBO to make an official announcement, lips have been tight. HBO execs have tighter lips than Frank Semyon’s sidekick, Nails. Regardless, we know HBO at least says its moving forward with Nic Pizzolatto, even if means the world we deserve is one without a True Detective season 3. Here's what we know about season three...
True Detective Season 3 News: The Latest
True Detective fans have been sitting around their Devil’s Trap praying to the unspeakable powers that be to bring the crime drama back for a third season. That chatter isn’t falling on deaf ears. It’s heard by the man who played the OG true detective, Matthew McConaughey.
The True Detective season one star addressed the possibility of a third season in an interview with Rich Eisen. McConaughey said what we all know, creator Nic Pizzolatto is taking a break after a poorly received second season. He did offer that if he could return for another installment of True Detective, he’d be open to it.
“If that thing was written well and it came up again, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second,” he said.
Rust Cohle prequel, anyone?
HBO Chief Says True Detective Season 3 Is Not Dead
Coming out of HBO's TCA presentation, HBO new programming chief Casey Bloys said frankly: "[True Detective] is not dead." The exec told the gathered press that both him and Pizzolatoo are "open to a third season," but at the moment, "Nic doesn’t have a take [right now].”
This could also mean True Detective comes back with another writer or in a different form as the name recognition makes the series an appealing one for HBO to have around. “We’re open to someone else writing it and Nic supervising it," Bloys said. "We’re open to other permutations.”
Last year, the premium cabler locked up an overall deal that will have the creator of True Detective in the fold until 2018. It was then reported that a new season of True Detective was still on the table, with Pizzolatto having the option to either re-work the creative structure of the series, hire a writing staff, bring in a new showrunner or go at it alone again. Regardless, he would remain an executive producer.
We'll keep you posted on where the series stands...
Watch True Detective on Amazon
True Detective Season 3: How We Got Here
Back in August 2015, HBO commented on the potential for True Detective season 3 following the critically-panned and generally hate-watched second season. Speaking to the Television Critics Association, the now former HBO boss Michael Lombardo defended the latest season, and even gave a hint that he's willing to ahead with TrueDetectiveseason 3.
"I'd love to do another season," Lombardo said, noting that the ask to Pizzolatto was already out there. "I haven't asked every one of the 12 million viewers who is watching, but I think what he's doing is so much bolder, braver and satisfying that what I'm seeing in film. I'd happily be in business with him for a long time."
Lombardo backed up his comments that Pizzolatto was "one of the best writers working in television and motion pictures today" by inking the writer to a new deal.
In another interview from HBO's head of programming, we get our best hint at when True Detective season 3 may air. Talking about the perceived failures of season 2, Lombardo said they can learn by allowing Pizzolatto more time to craft his story, rather than succumb to the pressures of network television. All signs point to an extended hitaus for HBO's crime drama series.
“I’ll tell you something. Our biggest failures — and I don’t know if I would consider True Detective 2 — but when we tell somebody to hit an air date as opposed to allowing the writing to find its own natural resting place, when it’s ready, when it’s baked — we’ve failed,” Lombardo told scpr.org. You can read our story with his full commments here.
With Lombardo exiting HBO, we'll see if one of the major shows tied to his legacy remains on air.
True Detective Season 3 Release Date
If it ever does happen, we won't see True Detective Season 3 in 2016. If interest and production picks up, and this is pure speculation, the earliest we'd see our new detectives would be summer/fall 2017.
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Chris Longo is the deputy editor at Den of Geek. Tell him about the world we deserve on Twitter. Refresh your memory True Detective memory with our reviews and our True Detective podcast.