After a prolonged hiatus, director David Fincher has confirmed that Mindhunter season 3 has been canceled. In the late 1970s, the show follows two FBI agents as they investigate and try to apprehend serial killers using criminal profiling. Although Season 2 premiered in August 2019, the show’s future was uncertain, and fans speculated about the possibility of a third season.
According to a recent interview with the French publication Le Journal du Dimanche, David Fincher, who directed multiple episodes of Mindhunter, was asked about the show’s future. In response to the prospect of a third season, Fincher cited the show’s high cost and deemed it an uncertain investment for Netflix. GamesRadar quoted him as saying:
“I’m very proud of the first two seasons, but it’s a particularly expensive series and, in the eyes of Netflix, we haven’t attracted a large enough audience to justify such an investment. I don’t blame them, they took risks to launch the series.”
What was the anticipated outlook for the third season of the show?
Netflix declared an indefinite hiatus for Mindhunter, as David Fincher was working on other projects, leading to uncertainty about the possibility of a third season. Even Fincher acknowledged on several occasions that season 3 may not be happening. However, fans were eager for the show’s return, as season 2 introduced a potentially significant plotline. Mindhunter had previously hinted at the “BTK Killer,” a notorious serial killer who teased authorities with his crimes. It seemed like a new season would focus on BTK, but it seems that this storyline will remain unfulfilled.
Andrew Dominik, the director, shed light on the potential plotline for Mindhunter’s season 3, which was rumored to have been canceled. In the next season, detectives Ford and Tench were expected to move beyond the basement and publicize criminal profiling in Hollywood. The show’s popularity partly stems from the remarkable performances and spot-on portrayals of America’s most infamous serial killers. Additionally, the psychological drama undertakes an in-depth examination of profiling serial killers, blending real-life stories into the narrative. For instance, season 2 delved into the Atlanta murders of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Mindhunter, which holds a 96 percent critical rating for season 1 and an almost perfect score of 99 percent on Rotten Tomatoes for season 2, is among Netflix’s top-rated series. Regrettably, the show’s viewership did not meet expectations, which, coupled with the high production expenses associated with period-accurate set design and attention to detail, led to its cancellation. Mindhunter’s termination adds to the list of other Netflix shows that have met a similar fate.
