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'Making A Murderer' Season 2 Hinges On This

by Joseph D. Lyons

Since the ten-part series covering Steven Avery's murder trial debuted on Netflix in December, the compelling updates in his case have been delivered on YouTube, Twitter, and articles like this one. It's just not the same as the docuseries, I know. But, there's still a chance that a second season of Making A Murder will cover the latest developments from the case in documentary form. The filmmaker duo responsible for the docuseries, Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, have expressed on more than one occasion an interest in another season.

At present, they are even holding interviews with Avery in case it progresses. Lots is still up in the air, but here is what we know so far. As far back as January, the directors had already began explaining the possibility of more Making A Murderer. Here's what Ricciardi said at a the Television Critics Association press tour:

I think today marks four weeks since the series launched and what we’ve managed to do in the past four weeks is have several phone calls with Steven Avery which we have recorded with an eye toward including them in future episodes.

They had not been back to Wisconsin at the time, but that's not something they rule out. "It’s real-life so you don’t know what’s going to happen. We are ready… if there are significant developments, we will be there," Demos said during the press tour.

The two reiterated their interest in February. Speaking at a panel discussion at New York’s IFC Center, they made it sound like the second season will happen if there's enough new material to cover. One possibility would be a new trial for Brendan Dassey. There's a federal judge looking over his case, and that is one possible outcome. The filmmakers would be interested in covering it. Ricciardi said:

We have no idea when the magistrate will make a decision in Brendan’s case. We do know that two potential outcomes are that the judge could order Brendan’s release or he could order a new trial. So we are on the edge of seats about that. To the extent that there are significant developments, we would like to continue documenting this [case].

One other possible focus could be Kathleen Zellner's game plan for exoneration. She has been tweeting teasers but hasn't laid out her evidence. The filmmakers have been in touch with her, but nothing is set in stone regarding another season. It wouldn't be Zellner's first rodeo. She was involved in another documentary Dream/Killer, which was about her client Ryan Ferguson, who she proved was wrongfully convicted.

The latest comment on the possible next season came just this past Wednesday. Speaking with Radio Times, Demos said, "Everyone’s open to it but we’ll see." One thing that won't be included in season two is the evidence that was left out of the first season. Ken Kratz, the prosecuting DA in the case has been vocal about what he claims was unfair representation. The filmmakers don't see it that way. Ricciardi explained:

If you look at some of the stuff Ken Kratz is claiming we left out, it’s repetitive of stronger evidence that we put in. So we would have had to take out his strong evidence and put in weaker evidence.

So no 100 percent guarantee on the next season, but if Dassey gets another trial or new evidence emerges about Avery's case, the directors want in. So stay tuned.

Images: Netflix (2)