‘True Detective’ Season 3 Premiere Set For 2017? Nic Pizzolatto Returns As Executive Producer

While the renewal of True Detective Season 3 remains uncertain, multiple reports insist that the third season of the hit HBO series will premiere soon enough. Because its creator, Nic Pizzolatto, has already inked a deal with the network until 2018, insiders believe that it is only a matter of time before we see the next installment.

According to Den of Geek, True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto was given three options by HBO: work on the series with a staff of writers, have a new showrunner take his place, or do everything alone for the third time. Regardless of his choice, the outlet reported that Pizzolatto will still be credited as an executive producer.

Although the second season of True Detective was bashed by both critics and fans alike for being “uneven and confusing,” HBO programming president Michael Lombardo said that he still wanted to continue working with Pizzolatto. He even described him as “one of the best writers” in both television and cinema, adding that he is looking forward to seeing what he has to offer to the network.

It definitely seems like the HBO executive is keen on doing another season of True Detective. While the reviews could have been better, Lombardo pointed out that the ratings were much higher than they have expected. With this turnout, he believes that viewers were looking forward to seeing more of what Pizzolatto has to offer.

“I haven’t asked every one of the 12 million viewers who is watching, but I think what he’s doing is so much bolder, braver and satisfying that what I’m seeing in film. I’d happily be in business with him for a long time.”

In a separate interview with SCPR, Lombardo, however, acknowledged that there is room for improvement for True Detective Season 3. He admitted that a lot of fans thought the second season was clearly an inferior version of its predecessor.

Lombardo also accepted that Season 2 flopping was partially his fault, explaining that he pushed Pizzolatto to finish the story even before he was ready. Impressed by the success of True Detective Season 1, he recounted that he wanted to bring fans a second season as soon as possible.

“I take the blame. I became too much of a network executive at that point… I set him up. To deliver, in a very short time frame, something that became very challenging to deliver. That’s not what that show is.”

The HBO executive shared that they learned the lesson the hard way. This time around, Lombardo held that they were no longer pressuring Pizzolatto to finish the script for True Detective Season 3. He shared that they are giving him more than enough time to find his muse.

Den of Geek speculated that if HBO moves forward with True Detective Season 3, Episode 1 will most likely premiere by winter/spring 2017.

As the Inquisitr previously reported, some insiders believed that one of the reasons for the delay is that HBO was having a hard time finding A-list celebrities willing to lend their name to True Detective Season 3. While the first season was clearly loved by critics and fans, the second season is an entirely different story. Fansided pointed out that HBO and Nic Pizzolatto may have to be a little more critical, both in storyline and cast, this time around.

“It’s possible that many actors out there are now looking at True Detective with a skeptical eye — they’re not sure if True Detective can recover… It has taken a step back and it needs to prove itself again.”

Tell us! What are you most looking forward to seeing in True Detective Season 3? Sound off in the comments below.

[Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]