
EXCLUSIVE: A hot event cop drama project is hitting the cable marketplace. Written by Nic Pizzolatto, the 8-part series has Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson attached to star and Cary Fukunaga (Jane Eyre) to direct all the episodes. Titled True Detective, it is descried as an elevated serial narrative with multiple perspectives and time frames. It centers on two detectives, Rust Cohle (McConaughey) and Martin Hart (Harrelson), whose lives collide and entwine during a seventeen-year hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana. The investigation of a bizarre murder in 1995 is framed and interlaced with testimony from the detectives in 2012, when the case has been reopened. The concept is for the 8-episode first season to resolve the mystery at hand, with subsequent seasons using same structure but new characters and story. I hear that, in addition to the assembled team of a writer, director and stars, the pitch for True Detective includes two written episodes and a bible. Anonymous Content, which manages both Pizzolatto and Fukunaga, developed the project in-house and is producing. Anonymous’ Richard Brown, Steve Golin and Bard Dorros are executive producing with Pizzolatto and Fukunaga.
This is the first TV collaboration for best friends McConaughey and Harrelson who have done two features together, Edtv and Surfer, Dude. For McConaughey, this marks the first regular TV series gig, for Harrelson, it marks a return to the medium where he became a household name as one of the stars of Cheers. Both McConaughey and Harrelson appeared on HBO programs recently — McConaughey guest starred on comedy Eastbound & Down, Harrelson starred in the movie Game Change. RWSG Agency-repped Pizzolatto, an award-winning novelist and short-story writer, recently worked on AMC’s The Killing. McConaughey and Harrelson are with CAA, Fukunaga with WME.
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I would not lead the pitch with “From one of the writers of ‘The Killing’…”
I like it. Break the best story you can — don’t string that shit along 13 or even 22 eps if you don’t have to.
So many movie stars coming to television. TV is a place to be nowadays. Movies do not offer interesting roles so actors are going to TV where there are plenty of them.
Movie stars? Once upon a time maybe not anymore. Maybe they no longer get interesting parts in movies because they no longer have much success at the box office. So TV is the place to go now for those who cannot draw people at the box office.
Okay, who’s got the weed trailer loaded? lol
Could be great fun though.
Just what I was thinking. These two guys seem to be kindred spirits. Fire it up boys! It’s going to be a good old time!
To me it sounds like The Killing+Boomtown. Anyways both are talented actors. I would like them to do crime drama something set in Dallas,TX in vein of The Wire, The Shield,and Wise Guy. Complex Crime drama is rare on TV right now. Justified, Southland, and The closer are closest thing we got to it.
You just lost all credibility by calling The Closer a complex crime drama. it’s just a lame procedural that appeals to the lowest common denominator and dervies from FAR better shows like Law and Order and NYPD Blue
He quit The Killing. So that’s something.
I’ll be shocked if this doesn’t land on AMC, FX or HBO.
Hopefully on AMC!!!
Wow, I like this pairing. Could be fun. Congrats Matthew.
So it’s a concept that sounds very similar in tone and structure (except for the time elapsed) to the Killing by a writer of… The Killing?
Huh.
Why, because it’s an investigation?
Like this story said, this new show is gonna tell this story from multiple points of view, going through 17 years. It’s also gonna be a close-ended tv series done in only 8 episodes. It could not be more different from The Killing.
The Killing is stretching its mistery through 26 freaking episodes, and has a much more conventional real time, law-and-order-like timeline.
Yes, because it’s an investigation. Of one case. One whole season to tell it. “new show is gonna tell this story from multiple points of view”… just like The Killing.
Yes, I know The Killing took two seasons to tell the story of one case, but it’s still a newish format that this show is cribbing. Having said that, I quite like the Killing and look forward to checking this one out, as the format allows more in-depth characters and moments that make good TV.
Well, AMC, if you’re going to play that game then you could easily say ‘The Killing’ is cribbing from miniseries like ‘Prime Suspect’ and the series ‘Murder One’ (and even earlier shows someone else is bound to point out). The reality is there are only so many ways to do a procedural crime story and this 8 epsiode, one case story over 17 years is as unique in structure from ‘The Killing’ as ‘The Killing’ is from a ‘Murder One’.
It’s ridiculous to consider ‘The Killing’ wholly original considering the literally dozens and dozens of serialized procedural tv series, movies, novels, etc. out there that it has things in common with. That’s not to say “the Killing’ isn’t great (because it is – or was) but it’s hardly the first procedural tv series or miniseries to follow one case.
Nobody — and certainly not AMC — ever claimed The Killing was “original.” The Killing’s own opening credits declare it to be a remake of a Danish TV series, for starters.
I thought the American ‘Prime Suspect’ followed diff cases every week, no? And ‘Murder One’ was on the air for what, half a season?
No one is saying that “The Killing” invented the idea of following a case over the course of one season. It just raises eyebrows since it’s done it so recently and pointedly… and the guy who wrote this project came out of that show. The guy who wrote Murder One or Prime Suspect did not.
That is all.
AMEN!!
I’m so annoyed by people saying The Killing and possibly this show is groundbreaking television when superior shows like the the ones you mentioned tackled it first.
The Killing is a bad REMAKE of a mediocre Danish show. It didn’t deepen or enhance the procedural; it just stretched it out to a series of interminable red herrings.
This, on the other hand, sounds wholly original.
really???
This is going to be incredible. Pizzolatto’s novel Galveston is maybe the most deeply realized crime novel of the last 2-3 years. Pairing two equally matched actors and sticking with them over one season as each peers into the abyss? Yes, please.
I could see this landing at Starz. Fits their format. Straight to series – 8 episodes. That and McConaghey has ties to Starz as he developed a show their a few years back. If it’s not on Starz, I expect to see it on FX, HBO, or Showtime unless Reelz makes an offer that comes out of left field. I hope this doesn’t go to Netflix, though.
Did you miss Harrleson in The Hunger Games there? Haha
When will the detectives play bongos? Really, no movie star has done better by entering a television series. TV creates stars, not the other way around.
It is about time McConaughey started picking interesting parts rather than being the male Jennifer Aniston of boring romcoms.
These Movie Stars are going to TV ’cause only really young people go to the movies, they don’t give a shit about these actors. Do you think young teens give two shits Woody was in Hunger Games? They didn’t go for “Woody”. Matthew is annoying with that twang. TV is not “Where to Be” the $$$ isn’t there for movies. This town runs on CREDIT, Hollywood talks a lot of shit the studios don’t have $$$. Bassett going to TV, Dennis Quad ect….THEY DON’T HAVE A CHOICE it’s TV or retirement. EAT SHIT HOLLYWOOD SYSTEM!!!!
It’s tough to say because I have no idea what you just said, but I think you’re angry about…retirement?
Anything with Woody Harrelson and I’m sold
How’d you like Semi-Pro?
Nice going…….I will be watching. Congratulations! We love you.
I like that it will be a completed story with new characters brought in for the next arc. A great way to get great talent to do quality TV.
The premise sounds fantastic….with Pizzolatto writing for two solid actors I’m ready to program the TIVO.
I know he’s been around for ever, and he was always ok, but when i watch Woody in 7 Pounds as Ezra, i knew he was a brilliant actor. Personally i don’t like a lot of the roles he chooses, but if he can get the right part, he has the subtlety, emotional availability etc to challenge for awards.
Nobody is a bonafied draw anymore and thank God for it. Movies and TV are better for it.
I’ve never commented here before and I’m not in the business. But I couldn’t help commenting on how irritating “The Killing” is. It pretended to be a serious mystery and a character study. But the show pulled the rug out from under it’s fans at the end of the 1st season and the plot developed into a second rate conspiracy not worthy of 24–itself a very good show in it’s day. It was a classic bait and switch. I couldn’t help laughing at the commercial for the second season premiere: “Are you saying Rosie Larson could be part of something…bigger?” No. Just something dumber.
I LOVE this pairing of actors.. it should be funny!!! Plus 2 of the best looking guys in Hollywood, WHEN IS IT GOING TO AIR????
Cary Fukunaga is a fantastic director. Both Sin Nombre and Jane Eyre were great films. I would rather see this as an 8 part miniseries and leave it at that. Sounds great.