Speaking at the Guardian International Television Festival in Edinburgh Thursday, Aug. 21, HBO programming director Michael Lombardo revealed a number of information about the upcoming second season of "True Detective," but he did not share any new casting and plot details.

"We're going to start shooting in September for it to air next summer," Lombardo announced at the annual event, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

He then confirmed several plot details that were previously reported before. "[It has] different characters, a different setting. It's set in California, all of California," he said. "There are three cops. One of the characters is female. I think that's probably all I'm allowed to say. We'll probably be announcing casting soon."

After reading the first two hours of scripts by Nic Pizzolatto as well as outlines for two subsequent episodes, Lombardo said that the upcoming season is not as dark as the first installment, Huffington Post UK reported

"It's still dark," he said. "Nic explores the darkness in people's souls. ... It's not as dark, but it's not a light ride. Nic likes looking into the crevices of the soul."

"The two scripts we have ... I hate to jinx it ... they are more exciting than the first season," gushed Lombardo at the Television Critics Association press tour in Beverly Hills last month, according to Entertainment Weekly."[Pizzolatto is] an incredibly talented writer. And he's blown us away with the first two episodes."

The entire first season of the show was solely directed by Cary Fukunaga. The episodes in the next season, however, will be helmed by different directors. Lombardo said he thought they would use "three or four different directors."

The network has yet to confirm any cast members for the new season, but below is The Wrap's breakdown of rumored actors along with the possible roles they would be playing.  

Colin Farrell as Ray Velcro, a grizzled detective who has been having a difficult time in "both his personal and professional lives."

Taylor Kitsch as Paul Woodrugh, a good-looking 28-year-old detective and military veteran "who has seen his share of violence and destruction."

Elisabeth Moss as Ani Bezzerides, a tough and straightforward sheriff from Monterey, who has gambling and drinking problems due to her "troubled upbringing."

Vince Vaughn as Frank Semyon, a former thug who has turned into a respectable businessman currently working with a local mayor and his political cohorts to push the construction of a high-speed railway system that connects Southern and Northern California.