‘True Detective’ Renewed for a Fifth Season at HBO

With the most recent season, ‘Night Country’, proving a giant hit, HBO is bringing writer/director López back for the new season, though the story’s unknown.

(L to R) Kali Reis and Jodie Foster in HBO's 'True Detective: Night Country.' Photo: Michele K. Short/HBO.

Preview:

‘True Detective’ will return for Season 5.
‘Night Country’ showrunner Issa López is once more overseeing the series.
It’s not yet known if it’ll continue Season 4’s story or start fresh.

If you were a fan of Season 4 of HBO series ‘True Detective’ subtitled ‘Night Country’ –– and the viewership figures suggest plenty of people enjoyed it –– there is good news.

The cable channel has commissioned a fifth season of the series, with ‘Night Country’ showrunner Issa López returning to run it as part of her overall deal with the company.

What was the story of ‘True Detective: Night Country’?

Jodie Foster in HBO's 'True Detective: Night Country.' Photo: Michele K. Short/HBO.

‘Night Country’ brought us to Ennis, Alaska, where the sun sets on December 17 and doesn’t rise again until after the New Year. On the third day of night, police chief Liz Danvers is called to the scene of a strange maybe-crime: the Tsalal Arctic Research Station, home to eight scientists who spend their days investigating arctic biology, geology, and the impacts of climate change.

But when Danvers arrives, all eight are missing. They’ve left behind their access passes, their cell phones, an uneaten sandwich; it’s as if the entire group has simply vanished into thin air. To solve the case, Detectives Danvers and Evangeline Navarro will have to confront the darkness themselves and dig into the haunted truths that lie buried under the eternal ice.

Starring Jodie Foster, Kali Reis, Fiona Shaw and John Hawkes, the season has been warmly received critics, and set viewership records for HBO, with 12.7 million cross platform viewers.

What will the story be for ‘True Detective’ Season 5?

'True Detective: Night Country’ Showrunner Issa López. Photo: Chino Lemus/HBO.

Nothing was included in HBO’s announcement about the new season regarding a storyline. Assuming it keeps to ‘True Detective’ tradition, Season 5 will be a completely new setting with a fresh set of characters.

Here’s what López had to say about the news:

“From conception to release, ‘Night Country’ has been the most beautiful collaboration and adventure of my entire creative life. HBO trusted my vision all the way, and the idea of bringing to life a new incarnation of ‘True Detective’ with Casey, Francesca and the whole team is a dream come true. I can’t wait to go again.”

And here’s HBO head of drama series Francesca Orsi on the renewal:

“Issa Lopez 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. Alongside Jodie and Kali’s impeccable performances, she’s made this installation of the franchise a massive success, we are so lucky to have her as part of our family.”