True Detective is an American anthology crime drama television series created and written by Nic Pizzolatto. The series, broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States, premiered on January 12, 2014. Each season of the series is structured as a self-contained narrative, employing new cast ensembles, and following various sets of characters and settings. The series has several connections to The Wire in the form of shared cast and crew members.

The first season, starring Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Potts, and Tory Kittles, takes place in Louisiana and follows a pair of Louisiana State Police detectives, and their pursuit of a serial killer over a 17-year period. The second season aired in 2015, starring Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch, Kelly Reilly, and Vince Vaughn, is set in California, and focuses on three detectives from three cooperating police departments and a criminal-turned-businessman as they investigate a series of crimes they believe are linked to the murder of a corrupt politician. The third season aired in 2019, starring Mahershala Ali, Carmen Ejogo, Stephen Dorff, Scoot McNairy, and Ray Fisher, takes place in the Ozarks over three separate time periods as a pair of Arkansas State Police detectives investigate a macabre crime involving two missing children.

Cast

• Clarke Peters starred in all five seasons of The Wire as Lester Freamon and appeared as a minister in the first season True Detective episode "The Long Bright Dark".
• Paul Ben-Victor stars as Spiros Vondas in the second, third, fourth and fifth seasons of The Wire and guest stars as Major Leroy Salter in the first season True Detective episode "Haunted Houses".
• Michael Hyatt has a recurring role as Brianna Barksdale in The Wire and has a recurring role as Katherine Davis in the second season of True Detective.
• Michael Potts has a recurring role as Brother Mouzone in The Wire and stars as Detective Maynard Gilbough in the first season of True Detective.
• Jim Klock had a small role as Officer Gillan in The Wire episode "Slapstick" and had a recurring role as Detective Ted Bertrand in the first season of True Detective.
• Sheila Cutchlow has a recurring role as Miss Sheperdson in the fourth season of The Wire and played a travel agent in the second season True Detective episode "Black Maps and Hotel Rooms".

Crew

• Alexa L. Fogel is the casting director for both series.
• Christine Kromer worked in the casting department for both series.
• Meagan Lewis worked in the casting department for both series.
• Daniel Attias has directed episodes of both series.
• Alex Hall has edited episodes of both series.
• Meg Reticker edited episodes for the third season of The Wire and the first season of True Detective.
• Pankaj Bajpal was the colorist for the pilot of The Wire and the second and third seasons of True Detective.
• Halina Gebarowicz was the art director for all five seasons of The Wire and the supervising art director for the third season of True Detective.
• Matthew Haasch worked as a foley supervisor on The Wire and a foley recordist for the first season of True Detective.
• Jay Peck worked as a foley artist throughout the run of The Wire and on the first season of True Detective.
• Debi Young worked as a makeup artist throughout the run of The Wire and as the makeup artist for Mahershala Ali on the third season of True Detective.
• Annabelle MacNeal worked as a set costumer on The Wire episode "The Cost" and as a makeup artist on the first season of True Detective.