Netflix appeared to have ended the true crime series Mindhunter, as there was no news of a third season after the second season aired in August. Subsequently, the streaming giant confirmed that the show was on hold, with all the actors released from their contracts.
Director David Fincher, the most credible source on the matter, has now officially confirmed what many of us already suspected: there will be no further seasons of Mindhunter, at least not in the near future.
During an interview with Vulture to promote his forthcoming movie “Mank,” the director revealed the de facto cancellation of Mindhunter.
Fincher explained to Vulture, “Considering its viewership, Mindhunter was a costly show. Although we initially considered the possibility of continuing after completing Mank, I don’t believe we can produce it for less than the cost of season two. In the end, we must acknowledge that the amount of money spent must align with the number of viewers.”
Mindhunter, a show that delved into the FBI’s study of serial killers’ thought processes, was probably not produced with a budget as high as that of Game of Thrones. Nevertheless, the series boasted an array of creative talents, which inevitably incurred expenses. The show’s production was spearheaded by Fincher, who served as an executive producer and directed seven of its 19 episodes, while Charlize Theron also acted as an executive producer.
Joe Penhall, the creator of Mindhunter, adapted the show’s concept from the book “Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit,” which was authored by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker and centered on the true-life genesis of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit. The series starred Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany as agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench, respectively, and Anna Torv portrayed psychologist Wendy Carr.
Although the creation of the Behavioral Science Unit was depicted in a serious manner in Mindhunter, the nature of the program allowed for the show to transform into a kind of Marvel Cinematic Universe for serial killers. Over two seasons, the series provided bone-chilling and authentic portrayals of real-life murderers such as Edmund Kemper, Charles Manson, and Jerry Brudos. In addition, the show’s plot featured a continuous side story that chronicled the life of Dennis Rader, the BTK killer, and traced his progression into violent crime. It appeared as if this storyline would run parallel to the BSU’s investigations, eventually reaching a climax in the final season. However, for the time being, the show’s portrayal of BTK remains unresolved.
During the same Vulture interview, Fincher indicated that if Mindhunter were to have a third season, it wouldn’t be until “maybe five years” later.
The quasi-cancellation of Mindhunter arrives when Netflix is seemingly preparing for a challenging financial situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The streaming platform has recently axed several prominent shows, such as Away, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and I Am Not Okay With This.
Source: DEN OF GEEK
