The intriguing rumor has become a reality:

Following a great deal of speculation, HBO confirmed today that Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn will star in True Detective Season 2.

Farrell will portray Ray Velcoro, described by the network in a press release as “a compromised detective whose allegiances are torn between his masters in a corrupt police department and the mobster who owns him.”

Vaughn, meanwhile, will take on Frank Semyon, a long-time criminal whose move into actual business enterprises is jeopardized when his partner is murdered

.

With plenty more roles to be cast, HBO has also announced that Justin Lin will direct the opening two episodes, while Nic Pizzolatto will pen the entire series.

Here is the basic, official network synopsis, followed by some guesses we had made as to who would star on True Detective Season 2:

Three police officers and a career criminal must navigate a web of conspiracy in the aftermath of a murder.

27 True Detective Season 2 Leads We'd Love to See

Start Gallery

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.