On the heels of the radio interview where True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto revealed the setting for the forthcoming second season and that it will involve three lead characters, comes news on the types of actors he is looking the cast.
Deadline says “unofficial breakdowns floated around” reveal the three characters are modeled on Christian Bale, Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, and Jessica Chastain. Chastain has officially turned down the role offered to her, and the same is true of Christian Bale. Given that these actors names are basically “prototypes” for what Pizzolatto is looking for in his characters, you can bet casting and the filmmakers will be looking for actors that meet or are close to the same age, build and of course acting range.
So we’re looking for a mid-late 30-something female and two males in their 40s or late 30s.
As for director Cary Fukunaga, he will not be returning. The Jane Eyre filmmaker who oversaw each episode of the first season will remain in a executive producer capacity, but the production schedule was too exhausting an experience to replicate again. Whether or not Pizzolatto will retain the singular vision of one director helming each episode, or if the schedule will incorporate a revolving door of two or three directors to meet production requirements is unknown. However, I do like the idea of having one director overseeing a complete season. If only to see how his or her styles differentiates from the director in a previous season.
In terms of casting, someone like Bale would be a tough get, and Phoenix would be coming off playing the protagonist detective in Paul Thomas Anderson’s adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s Inherent Vice. Knowing this, my ideal threesome for the stars would be Sam Rockwell, Chiwetel Ejofor and Clea Duvall. Other candidates would include any combination of Michael Shannon, Aaron Eckhart, Olivia Wililmas, John Hawkes, and Hilary Swank.
