True Detective officially returning to HBO duty

US premium cable channel HBO has finally confirmed a third season of crime drama True Detective.

The future of the show had been unclear after the second season failed to live up to sky-high expectations following the critically loved first run.

However, Time Warner-owned HBO has now officially greenlit season three, with writer and creator Nic Pizzolatto penning all the scripts bar one and returning as showrunner and director.

Oscar winer Mahershala Ali takes on the central role in the Anonymous Content-coproduced anthology format, playing a state police detective in Arkansas in a story about a macabre crime in the heart of the Ozark Mountains that is set over three time periods.

Pizzolatto, who has an overall deal with HBO, is exec producing along with co-director Jeremy Saulnier, Scott Stephens, and season one stars Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey (pictured).

“Nic has written truly remarkable scripts,” said HBO programming president Casey Bloys. “With his ambitious vision and Mahershala Ali and Jeremy Saulnier aboard, we are excited to embark on the next installment of True Detective.”

No premiere date has been set in the US. HBO has just wrapped season seven on record-breaking fantasy drama Game of Thrones, with other major drama Westworld set to return for a second run next year and David Simon’s new effort, The Deuce launching next on September 10 this year.