Harrelson says returning as Marty Hart would “tarnish” the legacy of Season 1, despite years of fan speculation and past hints of a possible reunion.
Woody Harrelson has officially shut down hopes of returning to True Detective alongside longtime friend and Season 1 co-star Matthew McConaughey.
Speaking on 3rd Hour of Today, the actor made it clear that fans shouldn’t expect Detectives Marty Hart and Rust Cohle to reunite for another installment of the HBO anthology series.
Harrelson said there is “no chance” he would reprise his role, even though McConaughey recently hinted a reunion might be possible. He explained that the acclaimed first season, created by Nic Pizzolatto, ended perfectly, and revisiting it could “tarnish” what they achieved in 2014.
Season 1 followed Hart and Cohle investigating the murder of Dora Lange over multiple timelines, a storyline widely regarded as the show’s creative peak.
In recent years, however, the possibility of a reunion has been a recurring topic among fans and within the industry. True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto previously revealed that both actors had expressed openness to returning and that he even had another story in mind for the duo.
His remarks, shared in podcast conversations, reignited online speculation that the iconic partnership might one day return to the screen.
Matthew McConaughey also fueled the conversation earlier by stating that he would consider reprising Rust Cohle if the script carried the same “fire and originality” that defined Season 1. He emphasized that the bar was extremely high and that any revival would need to meet or exceed that standard.
These comments created a wave of excitement, especially following smaller reunion moments—such as a recent ad campaign featuring both actors—that reminded audiences of their on-screen chemistry.
Account to NME, Pizzolatto has also said that if he crafted something strong enough, both actors would “look at it and go, ‘it must happen.’” McConaughey echoed this sentiment, saying he and Harrelson were “keen on the idea” but only if the material was exceptional.
Despite that history of teasing and speculation, Harrelson has now dismissed the idea firmly. Still, he confirmed that he and McConaughey are collaborating again—this time on a half-hour comedy series they hope viewers will enjoy.
