Nicolas Cage in Talks to Star in Emmy-Winning Crime Anthology Series

Oscar winner Nicolas Cage is in talks to star in the fifth season of HBO’s Emmy-winning crime anthology series True Detective, sources told Deadline. The new season will bring back writer and showrunner Issa Lopez, who also led Season 4, Night Country.

It’s been reported that the upcoming season will take place in Jamaica Bay, New York, according to HBO’s Head of Drama Series and Film, Francesca Orsi. Cage is being considered for the lead role of Henry Logan, a New York detective who is at the center of the new case. A representative for HBO declined to comment on the casting.

Cage has been considering the role for some time, though it’s not yet clear if a deal will be finalized.

As Orsi noted, “Issa has a lot to say, not unlike she did with Night Country. It’s a different milieu but just as powerful.” For comparison, another Oscar winner, Jodie Foster, also took a long time to finalize her deal for Season 4.

Filming for Season 5 is scheduled to begin in 2026, with a planned premiere on HBO in 2027.

True Detective first premiered to critical acclaim, with its debut season widely praised and considered one of the best television dramas of its year. The second season received mixed reviews, with critics praising performances from Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, and Taylor Kitsch, as well as the cinematography and action sequences, but criticizing the plot and dialogue.

The third season was positively received, and the fourth season, Night Country, has been hailed as the most acclaimed since the first.

The first season was also HBO’s most-watched show in its debut year, drawing an average audience of 11.9 million viewers and surpassing Six Feet Under’s 11.4 million in 2001. In February 2024, following the Season 4 finale, HBO officially renewed True Detective for a fifth season with Lopez returning as showrunner.

The next chapter of the series will explore crime in Jamaica Bay and promises another dark, gripping story under Lopez’s guidance.

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