HBO, "True Detective" creator talk plagiarism claims

HBO and "True Detective" creator Nic Pizzolatto are speaking out against claims that some of the hit show was plagiarized.

There's been speculation that parts of the crime drama (including dialogue by Matthew McConaughey's Rust Cohle character) were lifted from various authors and novelists, including horror writer Thomas Ligotti.

HBO issued a statement (via EW.com) this week saying, "True Detective is a work of exceptional originality and the story, plot, characters and dialogue are that of Nic Pizzolatto. Philosophical concepts are free for anyone to use, including writers of fiction, and there have been many such examples in the past. Exploring and engaging with ideas and themes that philosophers and novelists have wrestled with over time is one of the show's many strengths -- we stand by the show, its writing and Nic Pizzolatto entirely."

Pizzolatto added, "Nothing in the television show True Detective was plagiarized. The philosophical thoughts expressed by Rust Cohle do not represent any thought or idea unique to any one author; rather these are the philosophical tenets of a pessimistic, anti-natalist philosophy with an historic tradition including Arthur Schopenauer, Friedrich Nietzche, E.M. Cioran, and various other philosophers, all of whom express these ideas. As an autodidact pessimist, Cohle speaks toward that philosophy with erudition and in his own words. The ideas within this philosophy are certainly not exclusive to any writer."

Fans of the show have been awaiting news on who will star in season 2. It's already been announced that season 1 actors McConaughey and Woody Harrelson won't be returning and that the second season will feature a different plot.

Several names have been tossed around as possibilities, including Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Taylor Kitsch and Elisabeth Moss. In an interview with the Associated Press this week, Moss kept mum on the reports, but did say that "True Detective" is "a fantastic show."