Kali Reis and Jodie Foster in "True Detective: Night Country" on HBO and Max
True Detective: Night Country reached a captivating conclusion after six episodes. If you’ve finished the series, you’re likely wondering whether there will be another season of HBO’s crime anthology. Read on for everything to know so far about True Detective Season 5.
Set in the mining town of Ennis, Alaska, True Detective: Night Country stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis as Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro. The series follows the detectives as they search for eight Alaskan scientists from the Tsalal Arctic Research Station who disappeared without a trace. Along the way, Danvers and Evangeline must confront their pasts and dark truths underneath the Arctic ice. Finn Bennett, Fiona Shaw, Christopher Eccleston, Isabella Star LaBlanc, and John Hawkes round out the cast.
Season 4 also marked the first season for showrunner and executive producer Issa López, who took over from original creator and writer Nic Pizzolatto. López made a few changes to Season 4 by referencing previous seasons and intertwining more supernatural elements into the show.
“I think the ultimate goal is creating a story that sticks with people, that people remember years after watching it, in this deluge of stories coming our way. I think the trick to doing that is, the case is important, no doubt,” the Mexican filmmaker told Deadline in January 2024. “But if you did it right, people a couple of years later, they’re not going to be able to tell you the plot of the crime.”
Every season, the crime anthology series returns with a new star-studded cast. Over the years, the series has attracted top talent like Mahershala Ali, Rachel McAdams, and Vince Vaughn. Now that Season 4 has wrapped up, will there be a Season 5 of True Detective? Read on to learn what HBO has said.
Will There Be A True Detective Season 5?
Jodie Foster, Kali Reis, and cast in "True Detective: Night Country" on HBO and Max.
The answer is yes, HBO renewed True Detective for a fifth season. Issa López be returning as showrunner and executive producer for the next installment under a new deal, according to Variety.
“From conception to release, Night Country has been the most beautiful collaboration and adventure of my entire creative life,” López said in a statement. “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.”
The show’s renewal comes after Night Country’s streaming success. The Season 4 finale drew a season-high of 3.2 million viewers across HBO and Max, an 18% uptick from the season’s third episode, according to Variety. Across all episodes, the series averaged 12.7 million cross-platform viewers, which is higher than the past three seasons of the HBO series.
What Will True Detective Season 5 Be About?
Jodi Foster in "True Detective: Night Country" on HBO and Max.
Now that we know True Detective will get a Season 5, the anthology series will likely feature an entirely new cast with a brand-new storyline, as previous seasons have done. With blockbuster talent like Matthew McConaughey and Jodie Foster starring in lead roles, the show will likely cast another Hollywood star to take the reigns on the next chapter.
One unprecedented option is that López could continue Danvers and Navarro’s case in Season 4, although that would be the first for the series. After all, Night Country’s finale episode doesn’t answer all of this season’s mysteries, including what happens to Navarro and if the detective is dead.
“True Detective is an anthology series, so chances are the next installment will be with somebody else. Who knows who that’ll be?” Foster said during a sit-down interview with Reis, per Today. “But maybe they’ll bring us on as extras or something,” the Nyad star joked.
"Kind of like an Easter Egg," added Reis. Either way, the stars told Today that “that the experience of working together was something they'd happily repeat.”
True Detective: Night Country is streaming on Max.
