Mindhunter season 3: Everything you need to know
When the second season of crime thriller Mindhunter hit Netflix, fans wasted no time tearing through all nine episodes at lightning speed before quickly looking ahead to the show's future.
But has Netflix given season three the green light?
The answer, unfortunately, is no (at the moment), but Holt McCallany, who plays Special Agent Bill Tench, previously told Pop Culture that he is not only hopeful of a third season, but two more on top of that.
"I don't think anybody knows right now, in August of 2019, exactly what lies in store for Holden and Bill, and Wendy," he said. "We are hopeful that we will get to do the whole five seasons because the audience seems to have really responded to the show, people really like the show. And we're very proud of the show, and very excited to keep making the show."
We all know that Netflix isn't afraid to cancel big titles (Santa Clarita Diet, Designated Survivor and The OA fell victim to the chop), but canning Mindhunter at this stage could well be the final straw for many of the platform's subscribers.
It would also probably damage a very important relationship the streaming service has with the show's director/producer David Fincher.
What's more, during a recent interview with star Jonathan Groff (who plays agent Holden Ford, the character based on the real-life former FBI alum John Douglas), Hollywood Reporter appeared to confirm that (at least for now) a third run is "on hold".
This of course could be taken as a positive, as the implication is that we will – one day! – get to revisit the dark and compelling world of Mindhunter.
We also pointed out a while ago that we could be in for quite a wait, as Fincher (the show's creative engine) sets about embarking on a true passion project (but more on that later).
While we wait, here's everything you need to know about Mindhunter season three.
Mindhunter season 3 release date: When will it premiere?
Season one exploded onto screens all the way back in October 2017, but we then had to wait until August 2019 for the second chapter, which was nothing short of agonising.
The level of detail and research required to make Mindhunter is extensive, so we're predicting another long wait.
And it might be a really long wait, as David Fincher is prioritising his next movie (also with Netflix) first.
It's a biopic centred on Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz, titled Mank.
And Fincher doesn't exactly move fast. As Jonathan Groff noted (via IndieWire), "David was really specific with us about every single word, and every single turn of the scene; he was critically specific about the purpose. On the days of shooting, we would go in the room, sit down, and talk about how leaning forward could change the dynamic of a conversation."
Mindhunter season 3 cast: Who's in it?
If we get a renewal, we'd expect to see Special Agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) back on our screens, alongside psychology professor / FBI consultant Wendy Carr (Anna Torv), Special Agent Gregg Smith (Joe Tuttle), Bill's wife Nancy (Stacey Roca), FBI Chief Ted Gunn (Michael Cerveris), Bill and Nancy's adopted son Brian (Zachary Scott Ross), and the 'BTK killer' Dennis Rader (Sonny Valicenti).
There's also a possibility we could see Ed Kemper (Cameron Britton) once again, as well as a whole host of other serial killers that Holden and Bill haven't yet interviewed.
Special Agent Jim Barney (Albert Jones) appeared briefly in season one, when he interviewed for a job opening in the FBI's Behavioural Science Unit, but was pipped to the post by Gregg.
He did, however, feature heavily in season two during the Atlanta Child Murders investigation. Whether we'll see him again remains to be seen.
But it feels unlikely that Holden's former love interest Debbie Mitford (Hannah Gross), who didn't pop up at all in season two, or Lauren Glazier, who played Kay Manz, the bartender Wendy had a brief relationship with, will return.
Mindhunter season 3 episodes: How many will there be?
The first season had ten episodes, while season two went one fewer – so at this moment in time, your guess is as good as ours.
Mindhunter season 3 serial killers: Who will feature?
The first two seasons have included a number of serial killers, each with their individual stories, compulsions and modus operandi.
Alongside Ed Kemper and Dennis Rader, we've seen the likes of Jerome 'Jerry' Brudos, David Berkowitz (Son of Sam), Montie Rissell and Richard Speck.
If season three gets the go-ahead, Rader will definitely be back, and there's a chance Kemper will also. But what about the show's new recruits?
Viewers have been speculating about which serial killers could make an appearance and Ted Bundy's name has been floated.
Season two was set between 1980–81, during which time Bundy was in prison. He remained behind bars for nine years until he was executed via the electric chair in 1989 at the Florida State Prison in Raiford, Florida after eventually admitting to 30 murders, although it's believed that he was responsible for more.
Related: Did you spot this Mindhunter link in Netflix's Ted Bundy Tapes?
There's also a thread on Reddit in which people have been making their predictions.
The likes of 'Butcher Baker' Robert Hansen, 'Green River Killer' Gary Ridgway, 'Night Stalker' Richard Ramirez and 'Milwaukee Cannibal' Jeffrey Dahmer are all names that have been mentioned.
Serial killers were prolific in the 1980s – according to the BBC, "There were at least 200 such murderers operating in the United States alone" – so Fincher certainly has a wealth of high-profile names to choose from.
But which subjects will be selected depends on season three's time frame.
Of course, if we want real insight into where the show might be heading, the best place to go is John Douglas, the criminal profiler who provides the basis for Holden Ford. And there's still a few loose threads hanging.
"By 1981, not only did I have the Atlanta child killings, but I had the Tylenol murders," Douglas told Vulture. "We had the Unabomber case up in Chicago. Then we had other cases, Buffalo's .22-caliber killer."
Whether he realises it or not, the killers Douglas mentions would combine to create a pretty satisfying dramatic arc for season three.
The Unabomber wasn't caught until 1996, one year after Douglas retired from the FBI, so while he'd be interesting as a subplot, he couldn't form the main arc. He's probably the most 'famous' (infamous?) of the potential options, though.
The Tylenol murders weren't actually solved, but they did inspire copycat killers who were investigated and with their cases resolved, and the idea of a killer who poisoned his victims (and inspired such a wave of other killers) makes it a unique case for the Mindhunter gang to investigate (as opposed to all the sexually-motivated crimes they've covered so far). Again, a great subplot.
However, the main arc could go to the .22-caliber killer Douglas mentions. The 10-victim serial murderer was motivated by race hate, which would allow the show to further explore wider social tensions. Significantly, the killer – Joseph Christopher – was actually caught in 1981, which would make for a satisfying ending to the season.
Mindhunter season 3 plot: What will happen?
Aside from the serial killers who play a key role in each season, the central cast of Mindhunter also have some issues of their own which will continue to be explored in future episodes.
One twist that holds particularly powerful ramifications for season three revolves around Bill Tench's son Brian and the child murder he witnessed midway through season two.
While he didn't actively participate in the boy's death, he also kept the murder a secret, choosing not to tell his parents or even run for help when the killing took place. As if that wasn't disturbing enough, Brian also suggested that the boy's lifeless body should be hung on a cross, presumably to try and bring him back to life.
Just like in real life, the impact of this trauma isn't so easily resolved, and given how Brian withdrew into himself more and more in the weeks that followed, it's clear these events will continue to impact Bill and the Tench family in season three as well.
Mindhunter season 3 trailer: When can I watch it?
With season three currently unconfirmed, we don't even know if we're getting a new trailer at this point.
But if it does arrive (usually in the month leading up to the premiere), we'll pop it right here, just for you.
Mindhunter seasons 1 and 2 are now available to stream on Netflix.
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