After a clunky sophomore effort, HBO’s “True Detective” series from creator Nic Pizzolatto is looking for redemption in season three. Part of that narrative was hiring a critically-acclaimed indie auteur in “Green Room” director Jeremy Saulnier to help lead the show visually. But two episodes into the new season, Saulnier is exiting the show to be replaced with Daniel Sackheim, known for helming several episodes of FX‘s “The Americans.” HBO is calling the change up a “scheduling issue.”
READ MORE: ‘True Detective’ Season 3 Won’t Arrive Until 2019
The cable network released the following statement on the filmmaking changes through a spokesperson: “Director and executive producer Jeremy Saulnier has completed the first two episodes of True Detective season 3 and will be departing the production due to scheduling issues. Daniel Sackheim has come on board as a director and executive producer for the series alongside series creator and director Nic Pizzolatto.”
But why would the filmmaker, handpicked from the beginning and made an executive producer on the season from the beginning— originally set to helm the entire season split with Pizzolatto— suddenly not know his schedule and have to depart?
Honestly, it doesn’t at all pass the smell test, and it doesn’t help the news has been dumped late on a Friday night: a studio or network’s favorite time to release unfavorable news as quietly as possible.
Additionally, finding the right director was one of the holdups for season three moving forward in the first place, so this news suggests something more complex than schedules. While the number of episodes is unknown, Sackheim is expected to split the rest of the directing chores with Pizzolatto who will be behind the camera for the first time.
“True Detective” season three is set in the heart of the Ozarks and tells a macabre crime story that deepens over decades and plays out in three separate eras. The third season stars Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali, Carmen Ejogo, Stephen Dorff, Scoot McNairy, Mamie Gummer and Ray Fisher (Cyborg from “Justice League.” Pizzolatto has the sole writing credit for the entire season except for “Deadwood” creator David Milch, a mentor and friend who co-wrote episode four. [THR]
Update: see?
https://twitter.com/saulnier_jeremy/status/979902857204903936
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