We may not have seen the last of the hit HBO series True Detective just yet, as there are early plans at the network to produce a fourth season. Originally developed for the cabler by Nic Pizzolatto, the show serves as an anthology series with each of its first three seasons following new sets of characters and settings. Each of the three seasons has performed rather well with critics, and the series was last on when season 3 aired in 2019.

Speaking about the current status of the franchise with Deadline, HBO and HBO Max Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys teased that season 4 of True Detective is in the early planning stages. However, the cabler is stopping short of officially ordering a fourth season until they are presented with a script that matches the level of quality we've seen in the previous seasons. As Bloys explains:

"It's safe to say we're working with a couple of writers to find the right tone and take. It's definitely an area that could be very interesting and I think it would be interesting with a new voice. Quality is what's going to guide us so if we end up with scripts that we don't feel are representative or are not at a high enough quality, we're not going to do something just to do it."

The first season of True Detective premiered in 2014, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Set in Louisiana, the season follows a pair of detectives pursuing a serial killer over a 17-year period. In addition to earning high viewership for HBO, the series was also highly praised by critics for its quality. It was a big player at the Primetime Emmy Awards, with both McConaughey and Harrelson nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama and the show as a whole up for Outstanding Drama Series.

Season 2 of True Detective moved the story over to California, now starring Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Vince Vaughn, Kelly Reilly, and Taylor Kitsch. The story of the second season centered on three detectives from different police departments teaming up with a criminal-turned-businessman to investigate a series of crimes linked to the murder of a politician. Series creator Nic Pizzolatto also returned to write every episode of the season.

For Season 3, the story is set over three separate time periods. The new cast was led by Mahershala Ali and also featured Ray Fisher, Carmen Ejogo, Stephen Dorff, Scoot McNairy, and Mamie Gummer. In the third season that's set in the Ozarks, detectives investigate a crime involving two missing children. Although ratings were lower than the first two seasons, the critical reception was very strong with Ali earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.

At this point, it sounds like the potentiality of True Detective season 4 is totally up in the air. Fans of the franchise wanting to see it continue with a new story and cast of characters should keep their fingers crossed. This news comes to us from Deadline.