'True Detective' Officially Picked Up by HBO for Season 3

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After months of speculation and rumors, HBO has greenlit a third season of Nic Pizzolatto's limited series True Detective.

As we previously reported, Oscar winner Mahershala Ali officially signed on to star back in July. But HBO has now confirmed some initial season 3 details. Pizzolatto is set to direct, as is Jeremy Saulnier.

According to the network, the new installment will follow a horrific crime in the heart of the Ozarks in Northwest Arkansas. And adding a layer of mystery to everything, the story will play out in three separate time periods. Ali will take on the lead role of Wayne Hays, a state police detective.

“Nic has written truly remarkable scripts,” said Casey Bloys, HBO’s president of programming. “With his ambitious vision and Mahershala Ali and Jeremy Saulnier aboard, we are excited to embark on the next installment of True Detective.”

Added Pizzolatto, who wrote the entire season, minus episode 4, which he co-wrote with David Milch: “I’m tremendously thrilled to be working with artists at the level of Mahershala and Jeremy. I hope the material can do justice to their talents, and we’re all very excited to tell this story.”