'True Detective' Season 4 Release Date, Cast, Plot, and Everything We Know

True Detective Season 3 is just over halfway done, but we’re already thinking about the HBO anthology show’s future. We might not know a lot about True Detective Season 4, but various interviews with showrunner Nic Pizzolatto and cast members actually offer some interesting information to chew on. Maybe we’re jumping the gun, but after the show’s return to form in Season 3, can you really blame us?

After combing the internet for info, here’s everything we know about True Detective Season 4, from plot details and possible cast members to whether it will happen at all and what the release date might be.

Is True Detective Season 4 Confirmed?

Nope. HBO hasn’t officially renewed the show yet, and it’s unclear if Pizzolatto is interested in heading right back into True Detective Season 4. After all, that’s what happened with Season 2, and no one wants to see that again.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Pizzolatto explained exactly why he might not want to stick around for a Season 4, before immediately revealing that he already has an idea for the plot.

“I dream of making a TV show where you have recurring characters and don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time,” he said. “After one of these I always feel so depleted. But I have to say… I have an idea.”

Pizzolatto wouldn’t reveal what that idea was, but he did hype it up a bit before adding that he might want to try something else first.

“I have an idea that’s kind of crazy,” he said. “I think it needs to percolate for a while. I was looking to do another series, maybe a movie, in the meantime, but yeah. I have an idea…”

When is the True Detective Season 4 release date?

Good question. The short answer is: We have no idea. The longer answer is that it all depends on how HBO and Pizzolatto decide to approach Season 4, assuming it happens at all.

True Detective Season 1 premiered in January 2014, with Season 2 coming 18 months later in June 2015. Then, the series took a long break before returning in January 2019 for Season 3. Hopefully, HBO has learned its lesson and won’t rush a fourth season, though considering the positive response the current season has received we wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a bit faster than the gap between Seasons 2 and 3.

tl;dr? True Detective Season 4 will likely release and some point between 2020 and 2023.

Who’s the cast for True Detective Season 4?

Considering that the show has consistently surprised fans with new top-notch talent each season, it’s tough to say who could helm Season 4. Then again, Pizzolatto seems to be hinting that he’s also interested in bringing back old characters.

In an interview with Esquire, Stephen Dorff (Roland West in Season 3) relayed a quote from the showrunner that might just relate to Season 4.

“I would love to work with Nic again, and I would love to play Roland again,” he said. “Nic always said he’d like to do something one day where he gets to bring back all of the characters, like Rust Cohle.”

Putting all that star power in one place would certainly be interesting, but for now it’s likely just an idea. Then again, if Season 3 does good enough, anything is possible for True Detective Season 4, right?