Why was Mindhunter canceled, and could it ever return?

Netflix has a wide collection of true crime shows. However, some of our favorite shows keep getting canceled for various reasons. But Mindhunter? That one still stings.

Here's why the gripping crime thriller didn’t get a third season: it was just too expensive. Yes, that’s the main reason Netflix pulled the plug.

And if you’re holding onto hope for a comeback, well... don’t get too excited. Let’s break it all down, starting from why the show was buried and finishing with what the third season could have been about.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

---

Why did Netflix kill Mindhunter?

Mindhunter was a psychological deep dive into the minds of real-life serial killers. It was led by FBI agents Holden Ford, Bill Tench, and Dr. Wendy Carr. It had intense storytelling, chilling interviews, and a fascinating look at criminal profiling.

Fans and critics alike loved it. Season 2 scored a jaw-dropping 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.

But despite the love, Mindhunter wasn’t pulling in enough viewers. David Fincher, the mastermind behind the show, revealed that Netflix just couldn’t justify the high costs.

During an interview that was translated from French to English by The Fincher Analyst, he shared:

"Maybe House of Cards wasn’t a huge risk, but Mindhunter was. A procedural on behavioral sciences that would be neither X-Files, nor CSI, nor Criminal Minds, but would function as the portrait of a guy who loses his virginity in the world of psychos*xual sadists?"

He continued,

"We couldn’t complete the trajectory, but it was a gamble. An expensive series, too. Very expensive. 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."

Well, Netflix had some suggestions to tweak things up and keep the show alive. They reportedly wanted Mindhunter to be more mainstream. Maybe something closer to Criminal Minds. That would mean shifting focus from in-depth psychological analysis to more action-packed crime-solving.

Fincher wasn’t having it. He had a vision for the show and didn’t want to turn it into something else just to boost ratings. So, rather than changing the core of Mindhunter, he walked away. But he has no hard feelings for Netflix.

He shared:

“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. 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."

Fincher also stated,

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.”

---

What Mindhunter Season 3 could have looked like and whether it could return

If there had been a Season 3, it would have likely focused on the infamous BTK Killer, Dennis Rader. The show had been teasing his storyline from the start. And it was all set to become the main event.

There were also plans to explore how criminal profiling influenced pop culture. It was Hollywood taking an interest in FBI methods. Unfortunately, we’ll never get to see how that would have played out.

Fincher has been clear that he’s moved on. Netflix hasn’t shown any signs of reviving the series, either. That said, Fincher’s recent successes with Mank and The Killer have strengthened his relationship with Netflix.

If he ever decides he wants to give Mindhunter another shot, who knows? Stranger things have happened.

Mindhunter was a masterpiece that ended too soon. But at least it went out on its own terms. Netflix wanted changes, but Fincher refused to compromise. And that’s something to respect.

While a revival seems unlikely, we still have the first two seasons to rewatch and imagine what could have been.

Also read: Who portrays Ed Kemper in Mindhunter and what else has he been in? Actor's personal life and career explored

---

Stay tuned to Soap Central for more such pieces on your favorite shows!