While there’s no shortage of crime dramas to add to our watch list, there are a select few that cement themselves in our minds as among the very best. Narrowing down the best from the canon of crime-related series is, of course, entirely subjective but we remain confident that The Killing, Line Of Duty, Luther and Mare Of Easttown are some of the greats. And one certain HBO series that we still hail as one of the most thought-provoking is True Detective.

The show premiered back in 2014 and, as an anthology series, each season focuses on a new case, with all new stories and an entirely fresh (and star-studded) ensemble cast.

With the third season airing back in 2019, it’s been a while since we’ve seen the gritty series on our screens but it seems as though the streaming gods have finally heard our prayers. That’s right – the fourth season of True Detective is returning very soon with an exciting new cast.

Here’s everything we know about True Detective: Night Country so far.

What will True Detective: Night Country be about?

The fourth season of the acclaimed crime drama looks like it’ll follow the same format as the series that came before it: it’ll be twisty, eye-opening and terribly addictive. 

According to the official HBO synopsis: “When the long winter night falls in Ennis, Alaska, the six men that operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station vanish without a trace. To solve the case, Detectives Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro will have to confront the darkness they carry in themselves, and dig into the haunted truths that lie buried under the eternal ice.”

For a glimpse at how the drama will go down, watch the teaser trailer for yourself below:

Who will star in True Detective: Night Country?

The upcoming series has not one, but two stellar leading ladies at the helm of the drama. Oscar award-winning actor and director Jodie Foster will be taking the helm of the series as Detective Liz Danvers. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it was after a “prolonged round of negotiations” and Foster will also be credited as one of the show’s executive producers.

This role marks Foster’s first major TV role as an adult. She has, however, earned best actress Oscar wins for The Accused and Silence Of The Lambs, starred in 2021’s The Mauritanian and also directed episodes of Orange Is The New Black and Black Mirror. And clearly, she’s already making a big impression in the role as early reviews from the critics are calling the series “fierce and richly imagined” along with “a nerve shredding reminder of what TV can achieve”.

Actor, professional boxer and Indigenous rights advocate Kali Reis (Catch The Fair One) also stars opposite Foster in True Detective: Night Country Detective Evangeline Navarro. 

But that’s not all. Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve), John Hawkes (Deadwood), Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who), Finn Bennett (Domina) and Anna Lambe (Three Pines) round out the star-studded cast. According to Variety, Hawkes will play Hank Prior, “a police officer with old grudges hiding under a quiet surface”, while Eccleston will play Ted Corsaro, “the regional chief of police and a political animal with a long history tying him to Liz Danvers”.

Shaw will appear as Rose Aguineau, “a survivalist with a past full of secrets”, Bennett will play Peter Prior, “Liz Danvers’ protégé and apprentice – both for better or worse”. Lambe joins as Kayla Malee, “a young nurse with little patience for anybody that messes with her family”.

What happened previously in True Detective?

For those that need a reminder, in series one, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson led the cast – and remain executive producers of the show – as Louisiana State police detectives investigating a 17-year-long serial killer rampage. Series two starred Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams and Vince Vaughn and explored the murder of a corrupt politician. The most recent instalment took place in the Ozarks and starred Mahershala Ali (Swan Song) and Carmen Ejogo (Selma) but focused on a missing children case that left us guessing till the very last moment.

What will be different with True Detective: Night Country?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the HBO series is making its comeback but without creator Nic Pizzolatto at the helm. Pizzolatto rose to fame after True Detective’s first season earned 12 Emmy nominations and as an entire franchise, the three seasons have collectively earned more than 20 nominations.

In 2020, the showrunner and HBO confirmed that they would “part ways”, but as HBO owns the rights to the crime drama, plans for upcoming series have always been in the pipeline.

THR sources have said that HBO have recruited Issa López (Tigers Are Not Afraid) to pen a script for the new season, with Alan Page Arriaga (Shining Girls, Fear the Walking Dead) also on board as a writer. Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) is also signed up to executive produce the upcoming series and if season four continues to move forward, López is slated to direct the pilot, as well as serving as an executive producer and directing further multiple episodes.

The drama does a stellar job of cementing you right in the middle of harrowing cases and consistently delivers on plotlines, characters and drama, so it’s safe to say we’re excited for the fourth series, which premieres on 15 January.

For now, though, why not catch up on True Detective and stream it via NOW TV or Amazon Prime. 

 True Detective: Night Country is available to stream weekly on Sky and NOW from Monday 15 January

Images: Sky/HBO; Getty