According to Deadline, Oscar-winning Moonlight star Mahershala Ali is in "early talks" to star in a leading role in HBO's third season of True Detective. A deal is reportedly yet to be in place, but negotiations are currently underway.

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Interestingly, a third season of True Detective has yet to officially get the greenlight, though Ali's casting could cement a deal for another outing of the hit cable drama. In January, HBO President of Programming Casey Bloys said he was "hopeful" a third season would happen because creator Nic Pizzolatto was “closing in on an idea that he was excited about.” Most recently, revered television creator David Milch (Deadwood, John from Cincinnati, Luck) boarded True Detective to work alongside Pizzolatto developing the season.

Ali won the Best Supporting Actor category at this year's Oscars for his role in Best Picture Winner Moonlight. He has also had roles in Netflix's House of Cards as Remy Danton and in Luke Cage as the villainous Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes. He's set to star in JC Chandor’s upcoming thriller Triple Frontier.

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True Detective Season 3 doesn't have an airdate.