Fans of David Fincher's psychological thriller Mindhunter have been waiting years for a third season, and now Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has offered a fresh explanation for why it never happened. While Fincher previously blamed the show's hefty price tag, Sarandos suggests the real culprit was the director's own busy calendar.
Speaking at an event hosted by The Indian Express in New Delhi, Sarandos was asked about a series that deserved another installment but didn't get one. He immediately brought up Mindhunter, which ran for two acclaimed seasons on Netflix before going on indefinite hiatus in 2019.
"It's not a part two, it's a part three that I wish we got to make," Sarandos said. "Mindhunter, David Fincher's series on Netflix. We always anticipated there would be a third season, and he got very busy making a film. And David is an unbelievably meticulous creator, so he couldn't do two things at the same time, and he certainly didn't want to short-change either one. So it just got pushed off and pushed off. I would have loved to have seen a third season of Mindhunter."
That film Sarandos referred to is likely Mank, the 2020 black-and-white biopic that Fincher directed for Netflix, which earned multiple Oscar nominations. Fincher has also since helmed The Killer and is now working on The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a Brad Pitt-led project that Netflix will release theatrically later this year.
Fincher, who has been open about the show's demise, previously told Forbes in 2023 that the series was too expensive for the audience it attracted. "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 said. He also confirmed to Vulture that the show was officially dead, noting that he didn't think they could produce a third season for less than the second.
Sarandos, however, didn't mention budget at all, instead emphasizing Fincher's perfectionism and inability to juggle multiple projects. This aligns with Fincher's own admission that he couldn't do two things at once, but it offers a slightly different spin on why the show stalled.
Despite the cancellation, Mindhunter remains a fan favorite, and its two seasons—starring Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany—are still available on Netflix. For those looking for more true-crime thrills, check out our list of hidden Netflix horror gems that are flawless from start to finish.
While a third season seems unlikely, Fincher's relationship with Netflix remains strong. He's been exclusively working with the streamer for over a decade, and his upcoming projects are highly anticipated. For more on what to watch, see our best Netflix shows to binge this weekend.
As for Mindhunter, fans may have to accept that the story ends where it does. But with Sarandos expressing regret, it's clear that the show's legacy is secure. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates on this and other streaming news.
