HBO’s True Detective season 5 looks to have found its next acclaimed star in the form of Nicolas Cage. Originally created by Nic Pizzolatto, the series has chronicled the experiences of a new detective each season as their investigations into a series of violent crimes also impact their personal lives.
Helmed by Pizzolatto for the first three seasons before Issa López took over with season 4, True Detective started as one of the most acclaimed HBO shows ever, being hailed for its performances, atmosphere and direction. Subsequent seasons, however, saw more mixed reviews from critics, though the most recent season, Night Country, saw the best critical response since season 1.
Thanks to continued solid ratings, True Detective was renewed for season 5, with López set to return as both showrunner and director for the next chapter. It was later revealed by HBO’s Head of Drama Series and Film Francesca Orsi that the new setting would be in the Jamaica Bay Area of New York City and filming was expected to take place sometime in 2026 with a hopeful 2027 release.
Now, as reported by Deadline, Cage is currently in talks for the lead role in True Detective season 5. While no deal has been confirmed as of the time of writing, the next season of HBO’s anthology mystery series is said to be set in Jamaica Bay in New York, with sources reporting Cage is meant to play Henry Logan, “a New York detective on the case at the center of the new season”.
What Cage’s Negotiations Mean For True Detective Season 5
Nicolas Cage as The Surfer in the surfer
Though his casting may not yet be set, Cage joining True Detective season 5 would mark a major boost for both the Oscar winner and the HBO show. The previous four seasons have been led by similarly big-name actors, with season 1 memorably coming in the early days of the McConaissance, while season 3 began just in time for Mahershala Ali’s Oscar buzz for Green Book.
As for Cage, his True Detective would similarly be in the midst of his ongoing resurgence in popularity thanks to the successes of Pig, The Surfer and Longlegs. More interestingly, however, the HBO title would mark his second major TV role, with his first being in Spider-Noir, which wrapped filming in March and is eyeing a 2026 release.
Considering Cage often finds acclaim for his work in the psychological thriller territory, his negotiations for True Detective season 5 certainly make sense. Plus, while not the primary factor in López’s thinking, having a high-profile star in the vein of Cage standing as the face of the next season would be a big boon to the season’s chances of also increasing the show’s ratings.
Our Take On Cage’s True Detective Season 5 Casting Talks
Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze looking confused in Ghost Rider (2007)
While the second and third seasons’ stories left me waning just a bit, the one thing that has remained consistent across all four True Detective seasons is the offering of compelling characters for viewers to follow. Whether it was Rachel McAdams’ Ani in season 2 or Ray Fisher’s Henry in season 3, the writing has always offered performers plenty to sink their teeth into.
As such, combining the might of López after her excellent work on Night Country with Cage is already making True Detective season 5 one of the most exciting yet. Plus, with Cage’s Bad Lieutenant reimagining still being one of his most underrated performances, I think his joining season 5 would be the perfect follow-up to his prior role.
8/10
- Release Date
-
January 12, 2014
- Network
-
HBO Max
- Showrunner
-
Nic Pizzolatto