'True Detective' showrunner makes new HBO deal, future seasons 'considered'

After a tumultuous second season, True Detective‘s showrunner has made a new overall deal with HBO.

The announcement gives writer-producer Nic Pizzolatto an exclusive development contract with the network through 2018.

“A number of new projects are being considered, as well as future incarnations of the drama series True Detective,” HBO said in a release.

This does not mean a renewal of the anthology drama. We’re told there is no season 3 concept being discussed at this time. Given the current date and the production’s length of time spent casting marquee names to headline season 2, it’s seeming increasingly unlikely another edition will premiere in 2016. But this does hint the network is interested in continuing the series in some form.

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In fact, Variety adds HBO wants to shake up the show behind the scenes, with Pizzolatto being presented with various options to move forward (including having a showrunner replace him while he retains an executive producer credit).

The show’s second season this summer was knocked by critics and ratings took a tumble, slipping through most of the show’s run. Still, True Detective averaged 11 million viewers measuring across all of HBO’s platforms, while its acclaimed debut season last year won the WGA Award for outstanding drama series.