Nic Pizzolatto Says He Has a New Story for McConaughey & Harrelson’s Return to True Detective: “It’s Character-Based Again”

Nic Pizzolatto, the creator of True Detective, has shared that he has a new idea that could bring back Rust Cohle and Marty Hart, the two main characters from the show’s first season.

Played by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, the duo helped make the 2014 season one of the most talked-about shows at the time. Now, there’s a chance they might return.

Pizzolatto talked about this during an episode of the Nothing Left Unsaid podcast. While the idea hasn’t been written down yet, it’s something he’s had in mind for a while.

He said he’s even talked about it with McConaughey and Harrelson. “I actually have another story for Cohle and Hart that, who knows? Maybe we’ll do it one day,” he said. “It’s character-based again… But it’s not something I’ve written or anything. It’s just, I had that in my head. And we’ve talked about getting back together and doing it, and I think the guys are open to it.”

McConaughey still speaks highly of the first season, calling it his favorite. In an earlier interview with Variety, he said, “My favorite season, and I feel like I can say this objectively, is Season 1. I happen to be in that one, so I thought that was incredible, incredible television and a great series.”

Since their time on True Detective, McConaughey and Harrelson have remained close friends. They’re even working together again in an upcoming Apple TV+ comedy, where they’ll play fictional versions of themselves.

Pizzolatto stayed with True Detective for its second and third seasons, though the second wasn’t well received. He wasn’t involved in the most recent season, Night Country, which starred Jodie Foster and was created by Issa López.

He explained on the podcast that he left HBO and the series in 2019. “I was the one who walked away from my contract at the end of 2019,” he said. “I believe if I had given them a good script for another season of ‘True Detective,’ I believe they would have gone for it. But I myself was spiritually tired of walking in that much darkness.”

He also said that gaining full custody of his daughter changed things. “I had to step away from a lot of work in 2020,” he added.

Now that HBO is moving forward with a fifth season led by López, Pizzolatto thinks it makes sense. He said it felt “right and appropriate” for the network to continue the series without him. Still, the idea of McConaughey and Harrelson returning remains alive, and for longtime fans of the first season, that’s a glimmer of hope.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!