History of True Detective season 1 in Timeline
True Detective season 1 centers on Louisiana State Police detectives Rust Cohle and Martin Hart, played by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson respectively. The season follows their investigation into the ritualistic murder of a prostitute in 1995. The narrative jumps between 1995, 2002 (when the case is reopened), and 2012 (when both are interviewed separately). As they revisit the case, dark secrets about their past and the original investigation are revealed. Cohle, a nihilistic intellectual, clashes with Hart's more traditional and flawed character, testing their partnership and personal lives. The overarching mystery involves a network of influential people possibly involved in further disappearances and murders connected to occult practices.
16 hours ago : True Detective Season 5: Nicolas Cage eyed, Issa Lopez returns, New York setting.
True Detective Season 5 is tentatively premiering, potentially starring Nicolas Cage. Issa López is returning to direct the new season, which is set in Jamaica Bay, New York. More updates on cast and release are awaited.
1944: Allusion to Double Indemnity
Christopher Lirette of Southern Spaces said the show was about "men living in a brutally masculine world" and women are depicted as "things-to-be-saved and erotic obstacles" à la Double Indemnity (1944).
1974: Allusion to Chinatown
Christopher Lirette of Southern Spaces said the show was about "men living in a brutally masculine world" and women are depicted as "things-to-be-saved and erotic obstacles" à la Chinatown (1974).
1990: Influence of Twin Peaks
In 1990, the crime drama Twin Peaks premiered. Colin Robertson at The List saw Twin Peaks as the most notable artistic antecedent to True Detective's first season.
January 3, 1995: Dora Lange Murder Investigation Begins
On January 3, 1995, in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, State homicide detectives Martin "Marty" Hart and Rustin "Rust" Cohle began investigating the murder of 28-year-old Dora Lange. Her body was discovered in a sugar cane field outside Erath, posed against a tree with deer antlers and twig latticeworks, resembling Cajun bird traps.
1995: Influence of Se7en
Christopher Orr at The Atlantic noted that True Detective was "Fincherian in the best sense", a fusion of Se7en (1995), because of its subject matter, sleek cinematography and "vivid, unsettling" aura.
1995: Filming scenes set in 1995
In 1995, scenes for True Detective were filmed using Panavision PVintage lenses to produce a softer image, reflecting Cohle and Hart's memory.
2002: Filming scenes set in 2002
In 2002, scenes for True Detective were filmed using Panavision PVintage lenses to produce a softer image, reflecting Cohle and Hart's memory.
2003: The Handsome Family Composed 'Far From Any Road'
In 2003, The Handsome Family composed the alternative country song "Far from Any Road" for their album Singing Bones, which later became the opening theme for True Detective season one.
2006: Pizzolatto publishes Between Here and the Yellow Sea
In 2006, before creating True Detective, Nic Pizzolatto published his short story collection "Between Here and the Yellow Sea". This collection was inspired by HBO's series The Wire, The Sopranos, and Deadwood.
2007: Influence of Zodiac
Christopher Orr at The Atlantic said True Detective was "Fincherian in the best sense", a fusion of Zodiac (2007), because of its subject matter, sleek cinematography and "vivid, unsettling" aura.
2008: DiGerlando works in Glory at Sea
Alex DiGerlando, whom Fukunaga had worked with on Benh Zeitlin's Glory at Sea in 2008, was appointed as the production designer.
2009: Fukunaga's Use of Tracking Shot in Sin Nombre
In 2009, director Fukunaga employed a single six-minute tracking shot technique in the movie Sin Nombre, which he later used in True Detective for the scene where Cohle escapes a housing complex.
July 2010: Pizzolatto develops screenplays and True Detective pilot
From May to July 2010, Nic Pizzolatto developed six screenplays, including an early draft of the True Detective pilot script.
2010: Arkapaw works in Animal Kingdom
Adam Arkapaw, director of photography of Top of the Lake, came to Fukunaga's attention for his work in Animal Kingdom (2010).
2010: Pizzolatto publishes Galveston
In 2010, Nic Pizzolatto published his novel, Galveston, before focusing on television writing.
2010: Publication of Ligotti's 'The Conspiracy Against the Human Race'
In 2010, Thomas Ligotti's nonfiction book, The Conspiracy Against the Human Race, was published. Later, Pizzolatto was accused of plagiarizing Ligotti because of close similarities between lines in True Detective and text from Ligotti's book.
2011: Arkapaw works in Snowtown
Adam Arkapaw, director of photography of Top of the Lake, came to Fukunaga's attention for his work in Snowtown (2011).
2011: Pizzolatto joins The Killing as screenwriter
In 2011, Nic Pizzolatto began his major TV career as a screenwriter for AMC's series, The Killing, providing him with insights into the television industry.
2011: Fukunaga's Use of Tracking Shot in Jane Eyre
In 2011, director Fukunaga employed a single six-minute tracking shot technique in the movie Jane Eyre, which he later used in True Detective for the scene where Cohle escapes a housing complex.
2011: McConaughey finishes filming Killer Joe
Matthew McConaughey had recently finished filming Killer Joe (2011) when he was considered for a role in True Detective.
April 2012: HBO commissions True Detective series
In April 2012, HBO commissioned eight episodes of True Detective, with a budget of $4–4.5 million per episode after a bidding period.
2012: Richard Misrach's Photography Book Petrochemical America Used as Template
In 2012, Richard Misrach's photography book Petrochemical America was used as a template by the production team to photograph the local scenery for the title sequence of True Detective.
2012: Harrelson and Monaghan join True Detective cast
In 2012, Woody Harrelson was chosen to play Hart at McConaughey's suggestion, and Michelle Monaghan was chosen to play Maggie. Michael Potts and Tory Kittles were also cast as detectives Maynard Gilbough and Thomas Papania, respectively.
2012: Filming scenes set in 2012
In 2012, scenes for True Detective were filmed using Panavision Primo lenses, creating a sharper, more contrasting visual palette.
2012: Casting for True Detective lead roles begins
In early 2012, Nic Pizzolatto began contemplating the lead roles for True Detective while pitching the series to networks. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey were considered for the roles. McConaughey was contracted well before HBO commissioned the season.
June 2013: End of Principal Photography
In June 2013, the principal photography for True Detective season 1 concluded after three months (100-110 days) of filming, where approximately five minutes of film were shot per day.
March 9, 2014: True Detective Season 1 Finale
On March 9, 2014, the eighth and final episode of the first season of True Detective aired on HBO. The season, created by Nic Pizzolatto, starred Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as detectives investigating a series of murders in Louisiana.
March 2014: HBO Submits True Detective as Drama Series Contender
In March 2014, HBO submitted True Detective as a drama series contender for the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, an unconventional move that was criticized by FX president John Landgraf.
June 10, 2014: True Detective Season One Released on DVD and Blu-ray
On June 10, 2014, HBO Home Entertainment released the first season of True Detective on DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats, including bonus content such as interviews and deleted scenes.
July 2014: True Detective Nominated for Twelve Emmy Awards
In July 2014, True Detective was nominated for twelve awards at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, ultimately winning five.
2014: True Detective Among Best TV Shows of 2014
In 2014, True Detective was considered among the best television shows by the American press, receiving high praise for performances and direction.
August 14, 2015: HBO Releases Soundtrack Album
On August 14, 2015, HBO released an abridged soundtrack album, featuring 14 tracks from True Detective's first two seasons, through physical media and iTunes.
Mentioned in this timeline
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