True Detective season 5: everything we know so far about the hit HBO Max show’s return
True Detective season 5: key information
– Renewed in February 2024
– Production could begin in February 2026
– HBO’s Francesca Orsi mentioned a 2027 release
– Expected to be a completely new cast
– Nicolas Cage reportedly ‘in talks’ to star
– Plot details remain firmly under wraps
– Issa López signed on as showrunner after Night Country success
True Detective season 5 is officially on the way and while there’s no confirmation from HBO Max on a release date, there have certainly been some hints. Luckily, we’ve put together some of our own file with all the information about the next episode – and there’s a lot to talk about.
So when it comes to True Detective season 5, here’s everything we know so far about the release date prediction, expected cast, plot rumors and more.
Full spoilers For True Detective seasons 1 to 4 to follow. Additionally, potential spoilers for True Detective season 5.
True Detective season 5: is there a release date?
True Detective season 5 received its official renewal in February 2024, as reported by Variety. And that appears to be a 2027 release window, if the words of Francesca Orsi, head of drama and films at HBO, are true.
Speaking to Deadline, she revealed the new season’s potential launch date of February 2025, as well as a brand new setting: “It’s set in New York, Jamaica Bay. Issa has a lot to say, much like she did with Night Country. It’s a different environment but just as powerful.”
And, as Orsi suggests, Issa López, the creator of True Detective: Land of the Night will continue to take the lead in Season 4, thanks to a new overall multi-year deal with HBO.
Deadline goes on to report that filming for the new season is “expected to begin in the coming months,” but it looks like these next few months have turned into a year with the official FTIA listing revealing a filming date of February 2, 2026. Although nothing has been confirmed by HBO yet.
True Detective Season 5 Trailer
Since the cast and crew have not yet entered production and the release window is slated for 2027, there is no possibility. True Detective trailer for season 5 yet.
For season 4, the trailer was released just a month before the series premiered on HBO. So, I predict we won’t see a trailer until at least late 2026, early 2027, which would mark three years since Season 4 released.
Seems like a lot, right? Well, season 4 came out five years after season 3 and season 3 came out four years after season 2. So we might be in for a treat.
True Detective Season 5 Cast Scheduled
Spoilers follow for True Detective seasons 1 to 4.
At the time of writing, there has been no official casting announcement for True Detective season 5. But, a big screen star would have been “in full discussion”, according to The Hollywood Reporter in August 2025.
And that star is Nicolas Cage, a bit of a stranger to the world of television outside of his upcoming role in Prime Video’s live-action. Spider-Man Black series or host a unique season of Netflix comedy History of swear words.
Nothing is confirmed though, but THR reported that he is “set for an as-yet-unnamed role in the anthology drama.”
Let’s hope he’s as good at solving crime as he is at stealing the Declaration of Independence.
In response to the news of Cage’s potential role, Matthew McConaughey, who played Ruse Cohle in season 1, even threw his hat into the ring.
In a conversation with Variety in September 2025, he said, “We made it through that first season. But if it’s a storyline like that, with that fire and that originality, I would do it.”
True Detective Season 5 Story Speculation
Full spoilers follow for True Detective seasons 1 to 4.
The last part of True Detective it was season 4 Night Country starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, and it left some serious questions unanswered.
But, as is the case with an anthology series, each season is self-contained. So it seems incredibly unlikely that we could use any of the previous seasons to hint at what’s to come. True Detective season 5.
Historically, each season of True Detective begins with a new murder. And we imagine that a whole new cast and a whole new story will appear for the next season.
One thing we do know is that whatever new cast members come out and whatever mysterious plot follows, it will take us far from Alaska and to New York. Jamaica Bay, to be precise.
And, for Issa López, there will be a lot to love about this new season. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she revealed: “I’m dying for everyone to know about it because it’s very different and very exciting. It’s even darker and even more twisted. I can’t wait to release it.”
Will True Detective return after season 5?
There is no official news on whether True Detective will return for a season 6, but that’s not entirely surprising given that season 5 doesn’t yet have a release date.
But there is something we should talk about and it’s thanks to the series’ creator, Nico Pizzolatto.
Speaking to Variety in May 2025, Pizzolatto mentioned that there is potential for Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson to return: “I actually have another story for Cohle and Hart that – who knows? – maybe we will one day.
“It’s character-based again. But it’s not something I wrote or anything. It’s just that I had that in mind. And we talked about getting back together and doing it, and I think the guys are open to that. It’s just a question of whether it would ever happen or not.”
Add that to what McConaughey said about being open to a storyline, as noted above, it feels like something is simmering beneath the surface.
Whether this turns into a total boil, I’ll keep my ears open and update here whenever there’s official news.
For more Max-centric coverage, read our guides on The Pitt season 2, The last of us season 2, and Peacemaker season 2.
