A hauntingly vague and atmospheric teaser trailer for Cary Fukanaga’s HBO drama series True Detective has been released. With a promise that “darkness lives on both sides of the law,” the footage only reveals a glimpse of stars Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey.
Fukanaga’s feature film debut Sin Nombre, in which a Honduran teen with dreams of relocating to the United States reunites with her father, was popular with both critics and audiences. 2011 brought the director’s take on Jane Eyre, with Mia Wasikowska in the titular role. Establishing his talents in feature presentations may make Fukanaga’s transition into television a fruitful one. Additionally, his experiences as a cinematographer, mainly in short dramas such as Clear Water and Two Men, should not be overlooked as they will prove critical in True Detective, as is evident from the teaser.
The series focuses on two Louisiana detectives, played by Harrelson and McConaughey, who are in a year long pursuit of a murderer that tests the relationship between the detectives. Fukanaga will direct the first season, spanning eight episodes. Novelist and screenwriter Nic Pizzolatto (the author of Galveston) will be scripting and the premiere is scheduled for next year.
True Detective may bring in fans from The Following, starring Kevin Bacon. From what we have seen and know, the two shows seem to share a similar eerie, gritty quality. Given the wide-spread acclaim for The Following, this wouldn’t be a bad thing at all. Casting not just one, but two well respected and beloved actors will almost certainly bring in a sizeable audience and all things considered, Cary Fukanaga could have another success on his hands with True Detective.