A Third Season of True Detective Is Still Possible

The premium cable network has inked a new overall deal with the True Detective creator which will keep him based at HBO through to at least 2018. The agreement also covers a potential third season of True Detective, though the network has not officially pulled the trigger on a renewal. HBO renewed Pizzolatto’s overall deal in early 2014, paving the way for the Season 2 pickup of True Detective, which followed. However, the second run was critically derided, which likely begs the question if fans would stick around in the same numbers for a third go. Apparently, HBO is pressing Pizzolatto for an answer and giving him a number of options to choose from including: getting him a staff of writers, getting a show-runner to come in, or letting him tackle it alone again.

The breakout season of “True Detective”, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, quickly garnered critical acclaim and become a pop culture phenomenon, earning Emmy nominations for outstanding drama series, writing and lead actor for both McConaughey and Harrelson.

The season – which starred Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams and Taylor Kinney – suffered a well-chronicled sophomore slump creatively. Back in July, HBO Programming president Michael Lombardo made it clear that the call whether to go on or not would be Pizzolatto’s. The finale of the second season averaged 2.71 million, while the conclusion of the first drew a series-best 3.52 million, according to Nielsen. “I look forward to seeing where his unique creative vision will take us next”.

Following a truly zeitgeist capturing first season, Pizzolatto returned to craft an all new story with new characters and a new location for True Detective Season 2, but the results paled in comparison to the show’s first installment. Do you want to see a third season of True Detective or would you rather Pizzolatto try something else?