HBO Renews True Detective for Fifth Season with Issa López as Showrunner
The critically acclaimed crime anthology series, True Detective, is set to return for a fifth season, as HBO has officially renewed the show. This news comes shortly after the conclusion of the fourth season, which was helmed by showrunner Issa López. In addition to the renewal, López has signed an overall deal with HBO’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, and will continue to lead the series as well as develop new projects for the network.
HBO’s head of drama, Francesca Orsi, expressed her excitement about López’s involvement in the show, stating, “Issa López is that one-of-a-kind, rare talent that speaks directly to HBO’s creative spirit. She helmed True Detective: Night Country from start to finish, never once faltering from her own commendable vision, and inspiring us with her resilience both on the page and behind the camera.”
True Detective: Night Country, the fourth season of the series, has proven to be a massive success. It has become the most-watched season of True Detective, surpassing the viewership of the first season with a staggering 12.7 million viewers across multiple platforms. López was chosen to take over the franchise after creator Nic Pizzolatto’s contract with HBO expired and he decided to move to Disney. Despite Pizzolatto’s departure, he remains credited as an executive producer and continues to receive compensation for his involvement in Night Country.
However, Pizzolatto has been openly critical of Night Country on his social media platforms. Co-star Kali Reis defended the new installment, expressing disappointment in Pizzolatto’s lack of support. Despite this controversy, López has expressed her admiration for Pizzolatto’s previous seasons of True Detective and aimed to create a show set in the same universe.
López has already shared her plans for a potential second season, stating that she would “weave the mystery” in a different way to keep up with the real-life true detectives who have become obsessed with the show. With her creative vision and HBO’s trust in her, López is eager to continue exploring the world of True Detective.
The upcoming fifth season will feature an impressive lineup of executive producers, including López, Jodie Foster, Mari Jo Winkler, Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, Mark Ceryak, Chris Mundy, Alan Page Arriaga, Steve Golin, Richard Brown, season one stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, Emmy-winning director Cary Joji Fukunaga, and Nic Pizzolatto.
True Detective is just one of the many scripted dramas in HBO’s lineup. Other notable shows include The Last of Us, Euphoria, House of the Dragon, The Gilded Age, and the upcoming The Regime and The Sympathizer. Additionally, there are early talks of a potential third season of Big Little Lies.
Fans of True Detective can look forward to another thrilling season with Issa López at the helm. As she continues to push the boundaries of the crime anthology genre, viewers can expect a fresh take on the series while staying true to its roots. The future of True Detective is bright, and HBO is excited to embark on this new chapter with López leading the way.
