Matthew McConaughey has the kind of persona where he always seems to be projecting seriousness, while also always seemingly a split-second away from breaking into full-face grins. As such, it can be hard to tell when the actor is in a no-bullshit frame of mind and when he’s actually just pulling everyone’s leg. And when the concept is “possible follow-up to True Detective’s highly acclaimed first season,” one wants to be damned sure there’s no leg-pulling involved.
True Detective Season 5 is on the way from showrunner Issa López, with Nicolas Cage reportedly heading up the cast, but the Rust Cohle portrayer stoked the mystery drama’s fandom with an Instagram post alongside former co-star Woody Harrelson and T.D. creator Nic Pizzolatto. It’s the caption that really sends one’s imagination back to Carcosa. Check it out!
So many ways to take the phrase "original band." Or wait, no, it's mostly just the one way that directly points at Rust and Marty's dysfunctional relationship being explored anew. Or maybe even that McConaughey and Harrelson would be playing completely different characters, where one of them may opine that time is another type of flat shape.
For all that I'd love to cannonball dive right into this speculation, the logistics side of my brain can't let go of the idea that this post is nothing more than a moment in time where three friends stood together for a picture that has no bearing on the future. (Which Nic Pizzolatto's wife, musician Suzanne Santo, apparently took, per her comment.) The former showrunner himself spoke to idea that McConaghey was just blowing smoke, saying:
Oh man, you gotta know the rumors you just started
@NicPizzolatto
True Detective rumors are going to spread even without any actual former co-stars involved, so that's less of an issue to me. I'm more concerned with all the fans out there who see this without having that nagging sense of logic tamping down expectations.
Just look at this smattering of fan reactions, which came between endless Rust Cohle GIFs and "alright, alright, alright" chants.
- BRO DON’T GIVE ME HOPE 😭😭😭
- don't. don't give me hope. my heart just can't. please don't.
- Please don't play with my feelings...
- Don’t tease us … but also do
- WHAT DOES THIS MEAN
- Bring Rust and Marty back, please 😭😭😭😭
- Peak holy shit
- this is what the fans wanna see
In all the comment-scrolling, not once did I see a single reaction that could be viewed as negative. (Save for the takes where fans called Season 1 the only one worth watching.) Obviously social media comments aren't anything for HBO execs to base programming decisions on, but I have to think that another True Detective season with McConaughey and Harrelson would rank among the highest-rated originals in the network's history. (More so if they worked dragons into it, maybe, but not really.)
Of course, to go that route for a possible sixth season, HBO would possibly need to take the reins away from Issa López after Season 5, and that doesn't seem like it could happen amicably without agreements from all parties. So even if it is real, it's still complicated and not coming very soon.
Harrelson and McConaughey signed on to co-star in a completely different kind of TV show, the reality-skewing Apple TV+ comedy Brothers, which taps into the actors’ dovetailing bloodlines. However, back in June 2025, production was suspended reportedly for creative reasons, and it’s unclear what’s happening with that project currently.
Stream all four seasons of True Detective via HBO Max subscription, and stay tuned for more info about the next big case.
