HBO Orders Season Three of ‘True Detective’

HBO has announced a third season of crime anthology series “True Detective.” Led by “Moonlight” star Mahershala Ali, the new season, which is expected in 2018, will tell the story of a macabre crime in the heart of the Ozarks, and a mystery that deepens over decades and plays out in three separate time periods.

Nic Pizzolatto, who created the series, will serve as writer and showrunner and will direct alongside Jeremy Saulnier. The executive producers include Pizzolatto, Saulnier, Scott Stephens and season one stars Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey as well as original director Cary Joji Fukunaga. Steve Golin, Bard Dorros and Richard Brown will also be credited as exec producers.

Debuting on Jan. 12, 2014, the first season of “True Detective,” starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, took place in Louisiana and followed a pair of Louisiana State Police homicide detectives, and their pursuit of a serial killer over a 17-year period. The second season, starring Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams and Vince Vaughn, was set in California and focused on three detectives from three cooperating police departments and a criminal-turned-businessman as they investigated a series of crimes they believed are linked to the murder of a corrupt politician.