STARRING MAHERSHALA ALI AND CREATED BY NIC PIZZOLATTO, "TRUE DETECTIVE" RETURNS FOR THIRD SEASON JAN. 13, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO; STEPHEN DORFF AND CARMEN EJOGO ALSO STAR

1980: Will and Julie Purcell, the children of feuding parents Tom and Lucy Purcell, go missing a week after Halloween in West Finger, Ark.

2015: Retired detective Wayne Hays, who originally investigated the crime, is asked to look back on the twists of the unsolved case with a true-crime documentary producer.

Created by Nic Pizzolatto, TRUE DETECTIVE returns for its eight-episode third season with two episodes debuting back-to-back SUNDAY, JAN. 13 (9:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, followed by single episodes subsequent Sundays at the same time.

The new season will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners' streaming platforms.

Playing out in three separate time periods, the third season tells the story of a macabre crime in the heart of the Ozarks, and a mystery that deepens over decades. Mahershala Ali (Oscar(R) winner for "Moonlight") stars as state police detective Wayne Hays, with Stephen Dorff ("Somewhere") starring as Roland West, the detective who investigated the case with Hays, and Carmen Ejogo ("Selma") starring as schoolteacher and writer Amelia Reardon.

In 2015, retired detective Wayne Hays, his memory failing, looks back at the disappearance of 12-year-old Will and ten-year-old Julie Purcell, recalling the days and weeks immediately following the 1980 crime, as well as developments in 1990, when he and his former partner, Roland West, were subpoenaed after a major break in the case.

Filmed at locations throughout northwest Arkansas, the new season of TRUE DETECTIVE was written by series creator Nic Pizzolatto, except for the fourth episode, which he wrote with David Milch (HBO's "Deadwood"), and the sixth episode, which he wrote with Graham Gordy (CINEMAX's "Quarry"). Pizzolatto is also making his directorial debut with two episodes; other directors are Jeremy Saulnier ("Hold the Dark") and Daniel Sackheim (HBO's "Game of Thrones").

Episodes include:

Episode #17 (season 3, episode 1): "The Great War and Modern Memory"

Debut date: SUNDAY, JAN. 13 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

The disappearance of a young Arkansas boy (Phoenix Elkin) and his sister (Lena McCarthy) in 1980 triggers vivid memories and enduring questions for retired detective Wayne Hays (Mahershala Ali), who worked the case 35 years before with partner Roland West (Stephen Dorff). What started as a routine case becomes a long journey to dissect and make sense of the crime.

Written by Nic Pizzolatto; directed by Jeremy Saulnier.

Episode #18 (season 3, episode 2): "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye"

Debut date: SUNDAY, JAN. 13 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Hays (Mahershala Ali) looks back at the aftermath of the 1980 Purcell case in West Finger, Ark., including possible evidence left behind at the Devil's Den, an outdoor hangout for local kids. As attention focuses on two conspicuous suspects - Brett Woodard (Michael Greyeyes), a solitary vet and trash collector, and Ted LaGrange (Shawn-Caulin Young), an ex-con with a penchant for children - the parents of the missing kids, Tom (Scoot McNairy) and Lucy Purcell (Mamie Gummer), receive a cryptic note from an anonymous source.

Written by Nic Pizzolatto; directed by Jeremy Saulnier.

Episode #19 (season 3, episode 3): "The Big Never"

Debut date: SUNDAY, JAN. 20 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Hays (Mahershala Ali) recalls his early romance with Amelia (Carmen Ejogo), as well as cracks in their relationship that surfaced after they married and had children. Ten years after the Purcell crimes, new evidence emerges, giving him a second chance to vindicate himself and the investigation.

Written by Nic Pizzolatto; directed by Daniel Sackheim.

Episode #20 (season 3, episode 4): "The Hour and the Day"

Debut date: SUNDAY, JAN. 27 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Hays (Mahershala Ali) and West (Stephen Dorff) see a possible connection between the local church and the Purcell crimes. As the detectives search for one suspect and round up another for interrogation, Woodard (Michael Greyeyes) is targeted by a vigilante group.

Written by David Milch & Nic Pizzolatto; directed by Nic Pizzolatto.

TRUE DETECTIVE was created by Nic Pizzolatto; executive producers, Nic Pizzolatto, Scott Stephens, Daniel Sackheim, Jeremy Saulnier, Steve Golin, Richard Brown, Bard Dorros; producer, Peter Feldman.