Woody Harrelson will never return to ‘True Detective’: “I don’t even want to hear that”
If there’s one thing Woody Harrelson’s characters are good at, it’s taking it easy and not sweating over the small stuff. The actor has simultaneously managed to play wildly different and spiritually similar characters throughout the course of his career, with the likes of Haymitch in The Hunger Games and The Captain in Triangle of Sadness baring a stark resemblance to each other through their uncanny ability to remain calm in any given situation. But this seems to be a quality that Harrelson possesses himself, with very few roles that this doesn’t trickle into, with his character in True Detective standing out in particular.
However, despite the enormous critical praise for the series, Harrelson has said that he would not want to return to the character for one reason that perfectly fits the laid-back persona for which he has become famous.
True Detective is one of the many collaborations between Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, with the pair being described as on-screen brothers as a result of their electric chemistry. This became even more pointed after both men discovered that they were related, adding a whole other layer to their creative partnership. The actors have worked together on films such as The Newton Boys, Surfer, Dude and Welcome to Hollywood, but their most notable work was the detective drama in 2014.
Each season follows a new cast ensemble as the detectives work to uncover a new mystery. However, Harrelson and McConaughey were the openers who defined the series. The first one follows Rust and Marty as they investigate the murder of Dora Lange while also following their personal struggles.
The show was seen as one of the best dramas that year and was showered with accolades during award season, including a nomination for ‘Outstanding Drama Series’. But despite the fact that Harrelson and McConaughey are some of the most-loved characters from the show and the first season is regarded as one of the best instalments to the crime anthology, Harrelson has said that he would not want to reprise the role.
When discussing this, the actor said, “I don’t see doing that. No. Because it went very well the first time, and if we come back around to it, what else are you going to hear but ‘Not as good! Just wasn’t as good. Boy, you guys were good before, but this time…’ I don’t want to even hear that.”
The pressure to reprise an iconic character and surpass the high expectations of a committed fan base is a daunting task, and given the fact that Harrelson is known for his laid-back approach to all things Hollywood, his reasoning makes perfect sense. Why stress over a project that you’ve already done? Especially when you’ve already done it so well? It’s a pressure that feels somewhat pointless, and perhaps Harrelson is right that people would immediately compare the performance to his earlier rendition of the character. Sometimes, it’s better to kick your feet up and know that you’ve given it your best shot.
