The End of Mindhunter: David Fincher Confirms Season 3 Will Not Happen

After two suspense-filled seasons, fans of David Fincher’s critically acclaimed crime thriller series, Mindhunter, have been left disappointed, as Fincher has confirmed that the show will not be returning for a third season. In a recent interview with Le Journal du Dimanche, the filmmaker cited the series’ high cost and lack of audience appeal as the main reasons behind Netflix’s decision to put the show on indefinite hold, with no plans for future production.

Background to Mindhunter

The first season of Mindhunter was launched in 2017 and focused on the FBI’s attempts to develop a behavioral science unit. The second season, which aired in 2019, was set during the Atlanta child murders of 1979-81, with characters Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany investigating the notorious serial killer, Dennis Rader, otherwise known as The BTK Killer. The third season was slated to focus primarily on Rader and his crimes.

David Fincher Confirms Decision

In his interview, Fincher spoke candidly about the decision not to commission a third series, stating that, while he was proud of the show’s previous seasons, the cost of producing Mindhunter had contributed to Netflix’s decision not to proceed with a third season. The filmmaker was keen to emphasize that he bore no ill will towards the streaming service and was grateful for the opportunity to create the show in the first place.

Fincher Cites High Cost as a Factor

The cost of producing Mindhunter was high, with each episode reportedly costing around $10 million to make. Although the show received critical acclaim, it did not draw in the audience numbers that Netflix had hoped for. Fincher acknowledged this in his interview, praising Netflix for taking risks in backing less mainstream content.

Fincher’s Work with Netflix

Mindhunter was not the only project that Fincher co-created with Netflix. The filmmaker worked with the streaming giant as an executive producer and director for House of Cards, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the pilot. Since signing a four-year exclusive deal with Netflix in 2020, Fincher has worked on several feature films with the streaming service. His latest offering, The Killer, is set to be released on the platform in November 2022.

Why the Show was Put on Hold

Fincher’s Priorities

Fincher has previously hinted that he was not able to give Mindhunter the attention it deserved due to his other projects. In an interview with Variety in 2020, he explained that he had been heavily involved in the production of Mank, a black and white movie about the development of Citizen Kane. He also expressed his reluctance to “spend another two years in the crawl space,” referring to his need for a break from Mindhunter’s dark subject matter.

Writers’ Strike Rumors

There were also rumors that the decision to put Mindhunter on hold was due to an ongoing writers’ strike. However, this has been disputed, with Fincher stating that the writers’ stoppage had not affected production.

What Might Have Happened in Season 3?

The BTK Killer

The third season of Mindhunter would have focused heavily on The BTK Killer, who was first introduced in season two. The killer, whose real name is Dennis Rader, was known for his sadistic murders of ten people in and around Wichita, Kansas, between 1974 and 1991. Although Rader was arrested in 2005 and has since been sentenced to life in prison, his crimes are still widely discussed in popular culture.

Other Serial Killers

The show’s previous seasons introduced several other real-life serial killers besides The BTK Killer, including Ed Kemper, who was played by Cameron Britton in the series. It is likely that a third season would have featured other notorious murderers, with an emphasis on the psychological profiling and investigation that made the show so compelling.

Conclusion

The end of Mindhunter has left many fans feeling disappointed, but David Fincher’s decision to end the series was based on sound business principles. Although the show boasted impressive critical acclaim, its high production costs and lack of audience appeal meant that it was no longer viable to make. Nevertheless, Mindhunter remains a testament to the quality of content produced by Netflix, and fans can look forward to David Fincher’s future projects with the streaming giant.

FAQs

1. Was there really a writers’ strike that affected Mindhunter’s production?

No, although rumors circulated that a writers’ strike was responsible for the show’s cancellation, David Fincher has confirmed that this was not the case.

2. What other shows has David Fincher worked on with Netflix?

Fincher previously worked on House of Cards, co-creating the show with Beau Willimon. He also directed the black and white movie, Mank, and is set to direct The Killer, based on a French graphic novel.

3. Why is Mindhunter so expensive to make?

Each episode of Mindhunter reportedly cost around $10 million to produce, due to the high production values required for filming.

4. Was there disappointment among the cast and crew when the show was canceled?

It is not known how cast and crew members felt about the decision to cancel the show, as none have publicly commented on the matter.

5. Will there ever be another season of Mindhunter?

It seems unlikely that the show will ever return for a third season, but no official announcements have been made.