HBO has consistently been at the forefront of cinematic and character-driven television, helping to launch an era of high-caliber projects as the lines between TV and film keep blurring over time. One of their jewels alongside “The Sopranos” and “The Wire” is the first season of “True Detective,” as the hardboiled neo-noir serial killer thriller starring real-life pals Matthew McConaughey (the show helped to re-establish the actor’s credibility with audiences) and Woody Harrelson as at-odds partners became a phenomenon, leading to three subsequent seasons with calls from fans of the show to see for those season one characters to make a return.
There had been some signs from both show creator Nic Pizzolatto (sharing on the “Nothing Left Unsaid” podcast in May that he had an idea for a follow-up) and McConaughey (told Variety recently while promoting “The Lost Bus” he has left the door open for a return if the idea is interesting enough) about getting the band back together (the two are also reuniting for a “Mike Hammer” feature film). However, it sounds like Harrelson, after some recent comments during an appearance on “Today,” has zero interest in that idea, as not to “tarnish” the show’s legacy.
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“Matthew’s so funny,” Harrelson said when asked about his desire for a return to his “True Detective” character after his co-star left the door open. “In fairness, never. No chance… Because it turned out great. I love that it turned out the way it did, and if anything, doing another season would, I think, tarnish that.”
As far as we understand it, HBO isn’t exactly asking for Pizzolatto to write/make a direct follow-up story to that popular season, as they’ve been mostly focusing on the anthology angle. In the meantime, there is real development on the next batch of episodes from writer/director Issa López (Nicolas Cage said to be in talks for that fifth season) after being behind the acclaimed fourth season “True Detective: Night Country” (Pizzolatto would publicly criticize that season, after he was replaced), which earned lead actress Jodie Foster an Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
Whatever the case, season five of “True Detective,” potentially led by Cage, looks to be something much more tangible that fans of the crime series can expect to come together in some form from López. Anyway, you can watch that full exchange with Harrelson on “Today” below.
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
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- Christopher Marc
