True Detective 2 cast: Rachel McAdams in talks for role as 'no nonsense' sheriff

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Rachel McAdams is in line to star as the female lead in the forthcoming second season of True Detective, reports suggest.

The actress, 35, is believed to be vying for the role of a “no nonsense” Californian sheriff driven to gambling and alcoholism by her dark past.

Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss is competing with Adams, according to Variety, while Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn and Taylor Kitsch are also circling parts.

Nic Pizzolatto has returned to pen the next series for HBO, which looks set to pick up on the bloody murder of a corrupt city businessman found dead the night before a major transportation deal.

Three police officials from different cities are put in charge of solving the high profile case.

While the first season was directly solely by Emmy winner Cary Fukanaga, the new run will likely make use of multiple directors. No one has been confirmed as yet, but William Friedkin and The Fast and the Furious’ Justin Lin are among rumoured names.

Production on True Detective 2 is scheduled to begin later this month.

Earlier this year, Pizzolatto was accused of borrowing portions of his protagonist's dialogue from horror author Thomas Ligotti.

Pizzolatto, also executive producer of the show, has outright denied the claims, made by internet bloggers and fans of Ligotti’s work.

Last season's stars Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey quipped about the issue at the Emmy Awards last month.

“I'm grateful you had all the plagiarised lines,” Harrelson said, to which McConaughey immediately chortled a loud “Ha!”