Update: The Wrap is reporting that Taylor Kitsch is also under consideration for a younger male lead role.

Following up on the news that the first season of True Detective has just been nominated for 12 Emmy Awards, there has been a flurry of updates this week on the development of season 2. Last we heard, the next season would potentially revolve around a female protagonist and “the secret occult history of the U.S. transportation system.” It now appears that may not be entirely accurate as series creator Nic Pizzolatto recently revealed that there will be four central roles and we have just learned that Colin Farrell might be playing one of them. If that isn’t enough, we also have an interesting clue as to who might be directing the next season. Hit the jump for more details.

According to Variety, Colin Farrell is now in talks for one of the lead roles in the next season of HBO’s True Detective. It is still yet to be confirmed whether or not he will be joined by a female co-star, although previous rumours indicated that Jessica Chastain might be up for the role. HBO president Michael Lombardo did say that some casting announcements can be expected over the next week and that they will involve “well known names.”

On a related note, it is also unclear who will direct the next season since Cary Fukunaga is not expected to return. However, The Playlist recently chatted with William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The French Connection) and asked him if he would be interested in working on True Detective. Surprisingly, he revealed that he had already met with Nic Pizzolatto about exactly that:

“I am considering it… I like this writer very much. I’ve met him, and he’s the real deal as far as I’m concerned. Now, all the new seasons are different so I’m not committed—this new season has nothing to do with the last one. Except for him and his sensibility, which I think is extraordinary… I can’t say much more at this time. But I’m a fan of his writing, even though this will not be a continuation of what was done before with McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. So what you can say is I’m a huge fan of his writing, I’ve met with him, I like him, I like the direction he’s taking with this.”

It is believed that the next season may actually have multiple directors working on it due to the fact that it will have a much tighter production schedule. That might make it more likely that Friedkin would work on it, although it would also mean that his influence will be more limited. Coincidentally, Friedkin is sort of responsible for the so-called “McConaissance” thanks to McConaughey’s role in Killer Joe. What do you think? Is Colin Farrell a good choice to star in the next season of True Detective and would you like to see William Friedkin direct it?