HBO's mega-hit "True Detective" debuted in early January of 2014. It became the first major water-cooler conversation piece of the year, captivating audiences with its intense drama, highly original characters and heady philosophy.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting news about the second season since the first ended. Season 2 is expected to star an entirely new cast of actors and characters, in a new setting and a new scenario. Previous reports suggested it might follow the first season's lead by airing in early 2015.

Now HBO's head honcho in charge of original programming, Michael Lombardo, is saying "True Detective" probably won't return until summer 2015, making for an awfully long wait between seasons. It's not uncommon for some pay cable shows to take long hiatuses to accommodate actors' schedules, but fans will still be disappointed to hear this news.

Lombardo, speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, said that shooting will begin on "True Detective" Season 2 in September. Writer/creator Nic Pizzolatto had previously stated that the 2nd season would have four main characters, unlike last season's two leads, but Lombardo is saying now that there will be three main stars instead of four.

Rumors suggest that Colin Farrell, Taylor Kitsch and Elisabeth Moss may be the actors filling those lead roles, but HBO has not yet made any casting announcements. Despite some troubling allegations of plagiarism, "True Detective" is expected to be among the biggest winners at the Emmy Awards, which will be handed out on Monday, August 25, 2014.