‘True Detective’ Renewed for Season 5 With ‘Night Country’ Creator Issa López Returning Under New HBO Overall Deal
“True Detective” has been renewed for Season 5 at HBO. Issa López, the creator of “True Detective: Night Country,” will helm the fifth season under her new overall deal with HBO.
The renewal comes as little surprise, given the success of “Night Country,” which saw Jodie Foster and Kali Reis star in the fourth installment of the HBO anthology series. Per HBO, the season is the most-watched installment of the show to date, with 12.7 million cross platform viewers. The season finale on Feb. 18 was the most-watched episode of the season, drawing 3.2 million viewers across HBO and Max. That represents a 57% increase over the show’s premiere viewership in January.
More from Variety
“From conception to release, ‘Night Country’ has been the most beautiful collaboration and adventure of my entire creative life,” López said. “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.”
“Issa Lopez is that one-of-a-kind, rare talent that speaks directly to HBO’s creative spirit,” added Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO Programming and head of HBO drama series and films. “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.”
In “Night Country,” detectives Liz Danvers (Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (Reis) investigate the disappearance of eight men working at a remote arctic research station in Alaska. They soon discover the events at the station could be connected to one of their old cases, dragging them both into a dark and unexpected journey.
The season also starred Finn Bennett, Fiona Shaw, Christopher Eccleston, Isabella Star LaBlanc, and John Hawkes. Guest stars included Anna Lambe, Aka Niviâna, and Joel D. Montgrand.
At this time, Foster and Reis are not attached to the fifth installment, as the show has changed its lead actors with each new season.
López served as the writer, executive producer, and showrunner on “Night Country.” Foster executive produced in addition to starring.
Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, and Mark Ceryak of Pastel also executive produced. Pastel is currently under a first-look deal at HBO and Max. Chris Mundy, Alan Page Arriaga, Steve Golin, and Richard Brown also executive produced along with “True Detective” creator Nic Pizzolatto, Mari Jo Winkler, and Season 1’s Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, and Cary Joji Fukunaga. Princess Daazhraii Johnson, Cathy Tagnak Rexford, and Sam Breckman were producers on “Night Country.”
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.