‘True Detective’ Season 2: Assessing the Cast (So Far)

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Hollywood regulars Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, and Taylor Kitsch have signed on for Season 2 of Nic Pizzolatto’s gritty HBO series True Detective. Since this is an anthology series, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, stars of the initial eight episodes, won’t be continuing characters in the show. But there’s plenty of talent to assess and drool over as we wait for True Detective‘s return, which is expected in mid-to-late 2015. Note that the leading lady hasn’t been officially locked up, although Rachel McAdams is the rumored frontrunner.

Colin Farrell
Farrell definitely has the look and vibe of a True Detective character. He’ll be playing Ray Velcoro, a detective who is apparently flawed and tied to a collection of shady crooks. Given his impressive film performances in Phone Booth, In Bruges, and Triage, Farrell clearly has acting depth. He’s been in emotionally draining roles and dark comedies, elements that have their place in True Detective. For all the dark subject matter in Season 1, humor and blunt honesty were also present. Expect Farrell’s five o’clock shadow to be heavy and his brain to be stressed out to the maximum degree in Season 2.

Vince Vaughn
While movie roles like the ones in Old School and Wedding Crashers have defined his career, Vaughn has multiple gritty turns in his repertoire. He was fantastic in Return to Paradise and villainous in Domestic Disturbance. He’ll need to be villainous in True Detective as he plays Frank Seymon, a professional criminal who suffers the death of a key partner in crime. For skeptics of the often comical Vaughn appearing in such a dreary show, please trust Pizzolatto’s judgment. He and other HBO executives must have deemed Vaughn as a perfect fit. His previous gloomy roles will help him shine in True Detective.

Taylor Kitsch
Since being that annoying shirtless guy in the Friday Night Lights television series, Kitsch has formed himself into a quality actor. Yes, Battleship and John Carter were colossal busts, but he had mighty performances in Lone Survivor and The Normal Heart. There’s untapped ability in Kitsch that Pizzolatto and True Detective‘s mesmerizing directorial power will bring out. Details of his role are more scarce than that of his co-stars, but he’s thought to be a member of law enforcement on the same side as Farrell. Like with Vaughn, Pizzolatto will help Kitsch succeed and erase any doubt of his merit on the show.

Supporting cast
Two of the most exciting names in the True Detective mix are Kelly Reilly and Abigail Spencer. Reilly starred in Season 1 of ABC’s Black Box. She also had a memorable movie role in Flight alongside Denzel Washington. Spencer is phenomenal in the underrated series Rectify, where she plays the loyal sister of a recently released death row resident. Reilly and Spencer are fantastic additions to the show. Other members of the supporting cast include Michael Irby, Leven Rambin, Lolita Davidovich, and James Frain. Overall, this crop will work effectively with True Detective‘s primary stars.