Season one of HBO’s True Detective revitalised the crime drama genre, so it was unfortunate that the second season failed to meet our high expectations. Thanks to the reboot-style nature of the anthology series, however, creator Nic Pizzolatto and writer/producer David Milch (Deadwood) will be hopeful of recapturing the show’s initial brilliance for the upcoming third season. Especially if reports suggesting the pair are keen to bring Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali into the fold prove accurate.
Ali’s recent performances in films such as Moonlight and Hidden Figures have further established him as a scene-stealing presence. The American actor and rapper also won acclaim for his portrayal of ruthless gangster Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes in the Netflix/Marvel series Luke Cage. In it, Ali balances his trademark cool demeanour with rage-fuelled violence and a distinct maniacal laugh to help deliver some of the show’s most thrillingly tense moments.
Seeing as how the detectives in Pizzolatto’s show are often set in the flawed antihero mould, Ali’s character work would surely be even more unnerving from the perspective of him operating under the authority of the law. His central presence could be exactly what’s needed for True Detective to regain some of the fanbase which dwindled during season two.
There is currently no word on what character Ali might play if the rumoured deal goes through. But if he does end up landing a starring role our interest in True Detective will certainly be renewed.
Published 3 Jul 2017
Barry Jenkins’ low-key examination of black life in America is an aching romance of the very highest order.
By Matthew Eng
From Luke Cage to Moonlight, the American actor has made a vital contribution to his craft this year.
While Marvel’s Luke Cage is tackling race issues head on, progress is much slower in the studio’s cinematic universe.
Little White Lies was established in 2005 as a bi-monthly print magazine committed to championing great movies and the talented people who make them. Combining cutting-edge design, illustration and journalism, we’ve been described as being “at the vanguard of the independent publishing movement.” Our reviews feature a unique tripartite ranking system that captures the different aspects of the movie-going experience. We believe in Truth & Movies.
