Will there ever be another True Detective with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson?

Considering True Detective is an anthology series, we haven’t seen Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson reprise their roles as Rust Cohle and Marty Hart in Season 4, aka Night Country – but could it ever happen in the future? 

Though he may have run into controversy later, Nic Pizzolatto developed a benchmark for television excellence with the debut season of the crime anthology series True Detective. The intricate narrative, atmospheric cinematography, fascinating mystery, and philosophical musings make it one of the greatest shows of all time. Period. 

But let’s not forget, one of the most significant reasons for its success is the performance by leads Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, who elevated True Detective with their portrayals of the mismatched detectives on the case. While Seasons 2 and 3 failed to match the brilliance of their predecessor (especially the second), the latest chapter, Night Country, appears to be onto a winner, with Issa López taking the showrunner reins.

Jodie Foster and Kali Reis are excellent as the new lead detectives. But while it’s never good to dwell on the past, the question remains: will there ever be another True Detective season with McConaughey and Harrelson? Here’s what we know. 

Will there be another True Detective with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson?

There are no plans for another True Detective season with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson returning – but Nic Pizzolatto did previously tease an idea for one, titled True Detective: The Return. 

The tease arrived in April last year, when the former showrunner shared a photo of him with the Rust Cohle and Marty Hart stars, alongside the caption: “That’s a wrap on the complete table read for True Detective – The Return. Shame we’ll probably never get to film it… What a story. Ah, well… Always fun to see these two.”

Instagram/@nicpizzolatto

Inevitably, his followers started to ask why it’s not going ahead, to which he said, “I’d have to first write a story that I, the actors and the network all loved. Loved so much it feels worth revisiting something we already did the right way. 

“Then the actors would have to really want to do it. Then the network would have to foot the bill, which would be considerable. So that’s a lot. And it would start with me writing something on spec. Other than that, I could write a book without those constraints, but again, I’m doing other things and don’t have the time or inclination at present.”

While most fans would obviously love to see the duo in action again, many agree with the idea that the first season of True Detective should remain as is. “You’re right,” wrote one. “Let that monumental first season be a unique masterpiece. I can’t help watching it over and over when I feel like watching the perfect show, perfect actors, perfect intrigue, and a hell of a soundtrack. It is great to see that the chemistry we feel watching is a real life one.”

Another said: “I think I got a little confused by the original post. Sounded like you had a new story for Rust/Marty (‘The Return’). Agree that focusing on other stories is best. Rust/Marty story is not getting better. It was perfect.”