Despite rumors that production on True Detective season two has been delayed, the show is barreling forward with casting. According to Deadline, Intruders star James Frain and Lolita Davidovich—best known for playing a burlesque dancer in Paul Newman’s Blaze and for a short stint on The L Word—have both signed on for supporting roles. They’ll join stars Colin Farrell and Taylor Kitsch who play two California investigators facing off against Vince Vaughn’s career criminal. HBO has yet to officially announce which actress will portray the show’s leading female detective, although Rachel McAdams has been heavily rumored for the role.
Frain will play a ruthless police lieutenant named Jeff Hunt, while Davidovich will play Nancy Simpson, the mother of Kitsch’s character. She’s described as “a former showgirl continually sucking on cigarettes and margaritas as she mourns the loss of male sexual attention. What little of her hopes remain she has transferred onto her adult son, who, in her eyes, is God’s gift to women.” While it’s certainly possible Davidovich’s character will end up richly nuanced, her stereotype-filled character description probably won’t reassure those who felt the first season of True Detective lacked realistic female characters.
Season two’s male-heavy cast will be balanced by former Black Box star Kelly Reilly, who is on board as a series regular named Morgan. As previously announced, other supporting players include Michael Irby (Almost Human), Abigail Spencer (Suits), and Leven Rambin (The Hunger Games).