Mindhunter is a crime thriller drama series that focuses on two FBI agents, Holden and Bill, as they conduct interviews.
But instead of celebrities, they chat with America’s most famous serial killers, hoping to crack their twisted code. This show studies the fragile nature of human minds, which is seriously mind-blowing.
After getting renewed in 2019, Mindhunter’s Season 2 showed even more potential for exploring infamous murderers. But Season 3 hung in limbo for a few years until David Fincher revealed that the show had been canceled after two seasons.
Four years after season 2, one film on Netflix proved that the streaming service may have made the wrong decision by ending Mindhunter.
David Fincher Spoke on Mindhunter’s Cancellation After Netflix’s Demand
In 2020, Mindhunter’s director, David Fincher, revealed to Variety that he had no plans to revive the show for a third season. He pointed out the tight budget, making it seem illogical to pursue another season. The director also recounted the struggles of Season 2, as if Mindhunter had him needing a break.
In a conversation with a French mag, Le Journal du Dimanche, Fincher made it crystal clear that there will be no Mindhunter Season 3, ever. Netflix made the final decision and shut down the series. Fincher said during an interview with Forbes back in February 2023:
“I’m very proud of the first two seasons. But it’s a very expensive show and, in the eyes of Netflix, we didn’t attract enough of an audience to justify such an investment.”
He added:
“I don’t blame them, they took risks to get the show off the ground, gave me the means to do Mank the way I wanted to do it and they allowed me to venture down new paths with The Killer. It’s a blessing to be able to work with people who are capable of boldness. The day our desires are not the same, we have to be honest about parting ways.”
Mindhunter’s cancellation became extra painful after David Fincher’s action thriller, The Killer, was a huge success. Premiered on November 10, 2023, on Netflix and hit all the right notes. Netflix faced a double whammy—losing Mindhunter and then Fincher dropping a blockbuster.
The Fall of Mindhunter and the Rise of The Killer
The Killer shot straight to the top of the streaming service’s “Top Ten Movies” list, getting a round of applause from the critics. The film is based on the French graphic novel series The Killer, written by Alexis “Matz” Nolent and illustrated by Luc Jacamon. Many said that the success of The Killer could even lead to a franchise.
Fincher’s action thriller flick got thumbs up from all directions. So, his TV show Mindhunter could have kept Fincher’s success rolling. Just like The Killer, Mindhunter was loved by critics too much.
Netflix had a good chance with the TV series, and they should’ve cashed in on its popularity by ordering more seasons. The series had a bunch of more tales to tell. But unfortunately, the Mindhunter Season 3 wasn’t meant to be after all.
Watch Mindhunter and The Killer exclusively on Netflix.
