HBO Signs ‘True Detective’ Creator Nic Pizzolatto to Overall Deal

HBO has locked up True Detective‘s Nic Pizzolatto in an overall deal through 2018.

The announcement was made Tuesday by HBO programming chief Michael Lombardo, who characterized Pizzolatto as “one of the most exceptionally talented writers and producers working today.”

Interestingly, the deal covers new projects that could possibly include a third season of Pizzolatto’s True Detective, but HBO has stopped short of ordering another season of the anthology series.

The second season of Pizzolatto’s anthology series, which starred Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams and Vince Vaughn, was subject to critical brickbats for its meandering style — a notable shift from the much-praised first season of the show, which was so popular it crashed HBO’s streaming service.

Still, the second season of True Detective averaged 11 million viewers a week across all platforms on HBO, down only slightly from the 12 million pulled in by the critically hailed premiere season.

Last summer at the Television Critics Association press tour, Lombardo praised the show and its creator. “I think he takes a big swing. I think the show ends with as satisfying an end as any show I’ve seen,” he said.