True Detective took the TV world by storm when it debuted on HBO back in 2014, boasting a strong cast with two movie star leads, scripts that created a complex mystery, and direction that tied everything together. The first season was just about universally well-received, and it didn't come as a shock when the show was renewed for a Season 2 in 2015. For a while, however, there was little to no news about whether or not a Season 3 could happen. The odds have been getting better in recent months, and we finally have some definitive good news: True Detective will officially return to the airwaves for a third season, and some details have already been released.
Season 3 of True Detective will take the big mystery back to a rural setting, like that of Season 1. Given that Season 2 was panned by many of the same critics who adored Season 1, it makes sense that the True Detective team is going back to the roots of the series. The story will take place in the Ozarks. Mahershala Ali of Moonlight and Luke Cage will star as Wayne Hays, who is a state police detective hailing from Northwest Arkansas.
The third season will jump around in the timeline, as the plot of the mystery will thicken throughout three distinct periods. The story will center on a truly macabre crime in the middle of the Ozarks, and Wayne Hays will undoubtedly need to figure out what happened, how it happened, and who could have possibly been involved.
The new season of True Detective may go in some different directions from the first couple of years of the series, but the same man will be responsible for crafting the story. EW reports that original showrunner Nic Pizzolatto is the only one to contribute scripts for Season 3, although he collaborated with David Milch on the fourth episode. Milch joined Pizzolatto on developing True Detective Season 3 back in March, contributing as a writer and producer, although not the showrunner.
Nic Pizzolatto will have a full True Detective plate, all things considered. He'll direct Season 3, along with Jeremy Saulnier, who helmed the 2015 horror film Green Room. While Green Room wasn't much of a box office success, it was well-received by critics and audiences alike. He could be the perfect person to help Pizzolatto bring a new macabre mystery to the small screen.
Unfortunately, HBO has not yet confirmed an episode count or premiere date for the third season, so we can't say when Mahershala Ali will make his first appearance as Wayne Hays in the Ozarks. That said, HBO programming head Casey Bloys announced in July that he'd read five scripts for True Detective Season 3. We'll get at least five episodes. Given that Seasons 1 and 2 both received orders for eight episodes, I won't be surprised if Season 3 will also run for eight episodes. Hopefully the long break between seasons of True Detective has allowed Nic Pizzolatto and Co. to plot out another fantastic mystery to keep audiences on the edges of their seats once more.
Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in True Detective news, and don't forget to take a look at our fall TV premiere schedule for what you can watch while we wait for Mahershala Ali's big True Detective debut.
