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It’s official: Anthology crime series “True Detective” will be returning for a third season on HBO



The network made the announcement late Thursday, with series creator Nic Pizzolatto returning as the sole writer of the series — except for one episode, on which he shares credit with “Deadwood” creator David Milch. In addition to writing and executive producing, though, Pizzolatto will also be serving as director on the new season alongside “Green Room” and “Blue Ruin” director Jeremy Saulnier.

The season’s executive producers will include Pizzolatto, Saulnier, Scott Stephens, Steve Golin, Bard Dorros, Richard Brown, first season stars Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, along with Season 1 director Cary Joji Fukunaga.

As had previously been reported, the new season will be led by “Moonlight” actor Mahershala Ali, who will reportedly play the role of Wayne Hays, a state police detective in Northwest Arkansas. The season itself will tell the story of a macabre crime in the Ozarks, and a mystery that deepens over decades and plays out in three separate time periods. This is notably very similar in both tone and structure to the first season of “True Detective,” which took place in Louisiana and was split between two separate, distinct time periods.

“I’m tremendously thrilled to be working with artists at the level of Mahershala and Jeremy. I hope the material can do justice to their talents, and we’re all very excited to tell this story,” Pizzolatto says in a statement.

HBO Programming president Casey Bloys adds, “Nic has written truly remarkable scripts. With his ambitious vision and Mahershala Ali and Jeremy Saulnier aboard, we are excited to embark on the next installment of ‘True Detective.'”

There is no word yet on when “True Detective” Season 3 will premiere on HBO.