After HBO's "True Detective" proved itself to be a complete success, fans were already highly anticipating the next season shortly after the first one ended. In fact, the finale of season one drew so much attention that the streaming audience caused HBO GO to crash due to the massive volume of demand. This prompted the quick approval of a second season that is expected for release in January 2015 at the earliest.

The first season of "True Detective" featured stars Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey playing lead characters Marty Hart and Rustin Cohle respectively. Joining them were actors Michelle Monaghan, Tory Kittles, and Michael Potts in supporting roles.

However, despite the widely held belief that the two lead actors were directly responsible for the resounding success of the show, producers decided to stick to the initial plan in which both McConaughey and Harrelson would be replaced for the second season. The question remaining is whether the formula of the show can endure without them. Fans should hope HBO will not fall short as it has started the casting process for the next season. Rumors of Brad Pitt playing one of the lead characters remained unconfirmed as well as the selection of a female lead to play one of the detectives alongside him.

Big names that have been tossed around as suggestions to join the cast in Season 2 have included Christian Bale, Nicolas Cage, Edward Norton, and Bryan Cranston, if the two-male pair will still be followed. Fan favorites also include Anthony Hopkins, Samuel L. Jackson, Javier Bardem, and Will Smith. As for the female lead character, among the fan picks are Sandra Bullock, Amy Adams, Jessica Chastain, Selma Hayek, and Jennifer Lawrence. It would suit HBO well to pick a powerhouse cast for the upcoming season. Anything less would most likely disappoint fans.

To maintain the show's essence, the second season script was written by Nic Pizzolato again, who revealed that season two "is not about solving a murder mystery but a story of a detective chasing after an elusive criminal," according to Breathecast. Fans can at least rejoice as the script and other preparations for the much-awaited season are already ongoing.