One of the most famous Black Mirror episodes, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, is taken down by Netflix to make way for new updates.

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, one of Netflix’s most popular interactive specials, is no longer available for fans to enjoy. It was one of the last two Interactive Specials (with Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend) globally taken down from the platform on 12th May.

Although Black Mirror: Bandersnatch was not the first Netflix Interactive Special, it was a significant addition to the genre for the OTT giant. Providing different outcomes to different viewers as per their choices in the episode, it was an interestingly creepy experience. But it is all gone now as Netflix thinks that the technology is limiting them from focusing on new areas.

What caused Black Mirror: Bandersnatch to be taken down?

A still from Black Mirror: Bandersnatch | Credits: Netflix

Netflix first entered the field of Interactive Stories in 2017 with Puss in Book, and went on to make a total of 24 Interactive Specials for its platform. But in a shocking turn of events, the OTT giant decided to pull the plug on all this content in December last year.

Only four shows- Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend, Ranveer vs. Wild with Bear Grylls, and You vs. Wild– were spared from this overhaul. While talking to The Verge in November 2024, Netflix spokesperson Chrissy Kelleher revealed that it was needed as they were slowly transitioning to cloud and mobile gaming from Interactive Specials.

The technology served its purpose, but is now limiting as we focus on technological efforts in other areas.

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch was a special episode that centered around Fionn Whitehead’s Stefan Butler, trying to adapt a dark fantasy novel into a video game in 1984. Other actors like Will Poulter, Craig Parkinson, and Asim Chaudhry also played prominent side characters.

Will Poulter as Colin Ritman in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch | Credits: Netflix

Although every episode of Black Mirror deals with the horrors or absurd potential of daily technological advancements, the creepy Bandersnatch episode was somewhat different. With a cumulative run time of 312 minutes, involving all the possible endings, it raised large Reddit threads and engrossed netizens in discussing the different possibilities.

What’s on Netflix reported that Netflix is also working on redesigning its UI, which is currently in its testing stage and will be released shortly. This massive overhaul has caused them to let go of the create-your-own-adventure stories to focus more on gaming.

Netflix has already released non-interactive versions of Ranveer vs. Wild with Bear Grylls and You vs. Wild on its platform. But as Black Mirror: Bandersnatch‘s story is more complex and features different outcomes, it will not be easy to redesign it as normal content soon.

Can we get a sequel to Black Mirror: Bandersnatch?

Will Poulter in Black Mirror Season 7 episode “Plaything” | Credits: Netflix

The removal of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch was more surprising for the fans, as the fourth episode of Season 7, titled “Plaything,” had a unique connection to the Interactive Special. The episode brought back Will Poulter’s Colin Ritman, who, after the events of Bandersnatch, returned with a new game idea of Thronglets.

Besides Poulter, Asim Chaudhry’s Mohan Thakur also returned in the episode. However, Plaything is not a direct sequel to Bandersnatch. It is “Banderstruck”. Yes, you heard that right, creator cum writer Charlie Brooker revealed that he has a idea for a Bandersnatch sequel. He said to Entertainment Weekly:

I did work out the storyline for a completely different sequel for Bandersnatch, which was going to be called Banderstruck, but I never got to do it.

Charlie Brooker also teased that the possible game is set in a different era than Bandersnatch. Without disclosing much more information, Brooker added: “I’m agnostic as to what it was going to be,” and added that he might still revisit the idea.

It is notable that even if it is made, Banderstruck will lack the most memorable create-your-own-adventure style that made the first special such a hit. It is no lie that Bandersnatch was a wild ride, and nothing can beat the crazy and creepy interactive fun that it provided.

All the episodes of Black Mirror can be streamed on Netflix currently.