The first season of HBO’s True Detective was a big success for the US cable channel, scoring acclaim for its twisty, complex, thoughtful plotting and dark-skewing performances from Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, who both won Emmy nominations for their work. Given the show’s anthology style, neither will return for season 2, and The Wrap reports that Colin Farrell is now in talks to step in.
HBO isn’t commenting on casting rumours, so Farrell’s involvement won’t be confirmed until there’s an official announcement. But he’s certainly a solid choice for the cop drama. In addition to the Seven Psychopaths star, Taylor Kitsch is also being floated as a likely co-star. He’s had a rough time of it in cinemas, but Kitsch was praised for his turn on HBO’s TV movie The Normal Heart and of course used to do great work on TV's Friday Night Lights.
Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto is keeping most of the details for the new season close to his chest, though rumour has it that it’ll feature between three and four lead characters and is set in California as opposed to the Louisiana locales of the first.
Farrell will next be seen in Solace, Miss Julie and in offbeat romantic drama The Lobster.