Netflix’s Mindhunter had all the ingredients for success. A gripping story about the real-life FBI agents who studied serial killers? Check. A talented cast, led by Jonathan Groff and Anna Torv? Check.

And a dark, fierce aura that keeps viewers’ hearts in their throats? Absolutely check. Yet, despite all the hype and praise, Netflix decided to cancel the show after just two seasons.

Jonathan Groff in Mindhunter (Credits: Netflix)

If you’re like us, you probably wasted hours binge-watching the FBI squad untangle the sick minds of history’s most heinous murderers. It was unlike anything we’d seen before—a slow-burn psychological drama that kept getting better with each episode.

So, why did Netflix pull the plug so soon? After all, Mindhunter wasn’t just a fan favorite—it was also lauded. So, what happened? Let’s dive in and see what really went down with Mindhunter‘s untimely cancellation.

Why Mindhunter season 3 never happened

Tom Carlson and Jonathan Groff in Mindhunter (Credits: Netflix)

Mindhunter was not a typical crime show. While most shows have their fair share of action and drama, Mindhunter did things differently. Instead of chases and explosions, it concentrated on the psychological aspects of crime.

The show followed two FBI agents, Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), as they interviewed real-life serial killers to understand their behavior. It was a eye-opening deep dive into the minds of some of the most notorious criminals, and it didn’t hold back on the gory details.

As much as we loved it, Mindhunter wasn’t cheap to make. The crew put in tons of time and cash to get everything just right—sets, scripts, locations—everything had to be spot on.

Filming took place in different locations, with actors sometimes spending months on set. David Fincher, the executive producer and director, is known for being a perfectionist, so he wasn’t going to settle for anything less than the best. While that made for a high-quality show, it didn’t exactly help the budget.

You see, Mindhunter wasn’t a show that was going to pull in huge numbers. It wasn’t packed with action or easy to binge. Instead, it was a slow-burn psychological drama that needed patience and attention.

This type of show has a more niche audience, which is fine—but not necessarily the kind of audience Netflix was hoping for. The streaming giant wants shows that everyone can enjoy, and while Mindhunter got critical praise, it didn’t bring in the massive viewership they were after.

As a result, Netflix had to make a tough decision. The show was expensive to produce, and the viewership wasn’t high enough to justify those costs. According to Fincher, Netflix came to him with a choice: either lower the budget or make the show more “pop”—in other words, make it more mainstream and easier for a wider audience to enjoy.

But Fincher wasn’t willing to compromise on the vision. He didn’t want to make it less nuanced or dumb it down just to get more viewers. So, Netflix decided to pull the plug. Check out Fincher’s quote below (per Screen Rant):

We went as far as we could until someone finally said to us, ‘It makes no sense to produce this series like this, unless you can reduce the budget or make it more pop, so that more people will watch it. We did not want to change our approach, so, respectfully, they told us that they were drawing a line under it.’

It wasn’t just about the budget, though. Making Mindhunter was a whole process, with Fincher even moving to Pittsburgh for months to redo scripts and scenes (as reported by Variety). The pressure of making it exactly how he wanted left him totally drained. After season two, Fincher took a break, and Mindhunter never got picked up for another season.

Is a Mindhunter season 3 possible?

Jonathan Groff and Cameron Britton in Mindhunter (Credits: Netflix)

Now, let’s talk about the possibility of a Mindhunter season 3. Is it completely out of the question, or is there still a tiny glimmer of hope for us fans? Well, David Fincher hasn’t completely ruled it out.

He didn’t say that Mindhunter is done for good, but he’s also not rushing to make another season. Fincher’s been caught up with other projects, like his latest film The Killer, which got a lot of praise.

After all the intense work that went into Mindhunter, it makes sense that he might not be eager to plunge back into the world of FBI agents and serial killers anytime soon. Mindhunter still has a fervent fanbase.

Even though it’s been years since the last season, people are still talking about it. Netflix could totally cash in on that ongoing hype. Plus, let’s not forget—it was based on the book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit, so there was a ton of real-life material to work with.

The show had room for more seasons, digging into the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit’s origins. It could’ve unraveled more infamous killers and their chilling stories. So, could there be a season 3? The short answer is: maybe.

But it all depends on a lot of factors. Netflix would have to be willing to invest the money needed to make the show as good as it was before. Fincher would have to be on board and ready to return to a project that, while loved by fans, was incredibly taxing to make.

And there’s also the question of whether Mindhunter could attract enough viewers to justify the cost of production. It’s a tough call, but if Mindhunter‘s popularity persists to grow over time, Netflix may decide it’s worth revisiting.

The Killer’s success proves Netflix missed a chance with Mindhunter

Michael Fassbender in The Killer (Credits: Netflix)

Netflix’s decision to cancel Mindhunter doesn’t look good when you consider the success of David Fincher’s latest film, The Killer. Released in November 2023, The Killer swiftly became one of Netflix’s top films. Critics loved it (see Rotten Tomatoes), audiences rushed to watch it, and it turned into a spectacular hit.

So why does this matter? Well, it’s kind of ironic. Mindhunter was also a dark, psychological crime show, just like The Killer. It had the same attention to detail, the same slow-burn suspense, and the same intensive exploration into the criminal mind.

But Netflix decided to cancel the show while Fincher was clearly still killing it. The Killer showed that there’s still a huge audience for this kind of content. People are still hooked on the minds of killers, the psychology behind their crimes, and the investigation process.

Looking at how well The Killer did, it’s hard not to wonder what could’ve happened if Netflix had stuck with Mindhunter. The show was still popular after it was canceled, and it could’ve kept expanding its fanbase if given the chance. Instead, Netflix moved on, which now feels like a bygone opportunity.