ARA MYEMBI TO STAR IN “TRUE DETECTIVE: HARPERSVILLE,” HBO’S NEWEST INSTALLMENT OF THE EMMY-WINNING ANTHOLOGY SERIES

Written by Shana Miles

LOS ANGELES, CA — May 15, 2025

HBO announced today at its annual Upfronts that breakout actress Ara Myembi will lead the next installment of the critically acclaimed anthology series True Detective, titled True Detective: Harpersville. Myembi will portray Detective Imani Cole, a newly promoted investigator whose personal trauma and professional instincts collide when a string of murders reopens the wounds of her brother’s decade-old disappearance.

Set in the overgrown rural edges of Harpersville, Michigan, the feature-length season dives deep into themes of buried memory, generational secrecy, and the haunting persistence of unresolved grief. As Imani is drawn deeper into the case, she finds herself unraveling not only the town’s darkest secrets, but her own.

This marks Ara Myembi’s first leading role in a major series following her acclaimed turn in the indie film Daisy, which earned praise for its emotional depth and fearless storytelling. Her performance in Harpersville is already being described by insiders as “unflinching,” “magnetic,” and “a defining turn for the genre.”

True Detective: Harpersville will be written and directed by Chris Cowell, with additional executive producers from Anonymous Content, Plan B Ent., and JuVee Productons. The season continues the franchise’s tradition of pairing psychological depth with atmospheric tension, anchoring it in an all-new narrative shaped by female trauma, institutional complicity, and the blurred line between intuition and obsession.

Production begins later this year.

Production Credits

Anonymous Content – Overall Production Partner
The original producers of True Detective return to shepherd a new vision of the anthology, bringing their trademark psychological intensity and cinematic execution. Anonymous Content oversees production and story development across departments, ensuring continuity with the franchise’s legacy.

Plan B Entertainment – Tone + Narrative Direction Partner
Known for prestige dramas like Moonlight and The Underground Railroad, Plan B joins the series to help shape the season’s haunting tone and character-driven narrative. Their expertise in intimate storytelling with socio-political depth adds weight to Harpersville’s layered world.

JuVee Productions – Casting + Cultural Consultancy Partner
Founded by Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, JuVee Productions anchors the series’ cultural resonance. As casting partner, JuVee ensures Harpersville authentically represents its Black lead and supporting characters—bringing emotional honesty, intersectionality, and lived experience to the forefront of the ensemble.