Colin Farrell in talks for 'True Detective' season 2

Colin Farrell could be the new star of HBO’s True Detective.

The Irish actor (Fright Night, In Bruges) has been in talks for the role. We’ve been sitting on this news waiting for the deal to close, but as another outlet broke ranks and posted, we’re joining the inevitable online chorus despite the situation still being uncertain. So keep in mind there is no deal at this time as sources say the actor has not accepted HBO’s current offer. But as of today, Farrell is definitely in the mix and considered the most likely lead name to join the acclaimed drama.

On Thursday, HBO executives told reporters that a casting announcement on the crime drama was expected within a week. The two scripts we have … I hate to jinx it … they are more exciting than the first season,” said HBO programming president Michael Lombardo at the Television Critics Association press tour in Beverly Hills on Thursday. [Creator Nic Pizzolatto is] an incredibly talented writer. And he’s blown us away with the first two episodes.”

Though HBO executives downplayed a critic’s suggestion that season two of the anthology show must get big stars in the wake of the first round starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, the network has definitely approached some rather major stars over the last couple months for the major roles (Josh Brolin, Joaquin Phoenix, Russell Crowe, Jessica Chastain, Christian Bale…), plus Taylor Kitsch is name that’s rumored to be more likely than others. Yet given the first season’s critical and popular success, and the relatively short commitment involved, HBO is not expected to have too much trouble locking down recognizable talent (indeed, some industry insiders credit McConaughey‘s hot True Detective performance for helping the actor win his Oscar this year for Dallas Buyers Club).

From what we’ve heard so far, the second season will star a trio of leads and have a contemporary California setting. “Not Los Angeles, but some of the much lesser-known venues of California,” Pizzolatto said during a recent interview. “And we’re going to try to capture a certain psycho-sphere ambiance of the place, much like we did in season one.” The second season—and this is also not confirmed—is expected to consist of another eight episodes with Pizzolatto writing each. But while Cary Fukunaga directed every hour of the first season, we’re hearing that the second will likely have different directors for each episode.