Is Brad Pitt close to signing a deal to star in True Detective?

Los Angeles - Brad Pitt is close to landing a part on True Detective.

The World War Z actor is reportedly negotiating a leading role in the second season of the crime series with TV bosses on US network HBO, taking over from Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.

A source told the Daily Star newspaper: "Brad is already part of the HBO family and if commitments allow he will be part of the second season of True Detective. The quality of the scripts means the biggest A-listers in the world want the role."

The first series of the show saw warring detectives Rust Cohle (Matthew) and Marty Hart (Woody) join forces to solve a crime, but the duo have confirmed they won't be back.

It is not yet known whether Brad would be working solo or will get an A-list partner.

Show creator Nic Pizzolatto recently told Rolling Stone magazine he's already started writing the next season, which would feature a brand new cast and mystery.

He said: "I've got three characters I love right now, and they're all unique, and neither of them is Cohle or Hart."