Nicolas Cage in line to star in the next season of HBO's "True Detective"

Cage is no stranger to screen-shaking intensity, even if his career has mostly been defined by the big screen. He’s an Oscar winner for ‘Leaving Las Vegas,’ an action-movie icon from the days of ‘The Rock’ and ‘Face/Off,’ and more recently a cult favorite thanks to wild, committed turns in films like ‘Mandy’ and ‘Pig.’ He even played a meta version of himself in ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,’ a performance that only reinforced his reputation as an actor who dives headfirst into whatever role he takes on. That makes him an oddly perfect candidate for ‘True Detective,’ a series that thrives when its stars go all-in.

Expectations are that Issa López, the creative force behind season four, will return, with the new season reportedly set in Jamaica Bay on Long Island and aiming for a 2027 release. As for Cage, he hardly needs an introduction. While he has become a meme-worthy figure in recent years, often embraced with a mix of irony and admiration, there’s nothing ironic about his talent. He is still an Oscar winner, a serious actor with a track record of bold choices, even if some of them have led to head-scratching projects.

That’s what makes the idea of him joining ‘True Detective’ so compelling. The show is one of HBO’s most serious, no-nonsense dramas, a world of brooding mysteries and moral darkness that would give Cage a rich stage for his intensity. If the deal comes together as expected, season five could instantly become one of the most talked-about TV events in years.

(h/t The Hollywood Reporter)