Netflix open to another season of Making a Murderer

Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi's controversial Netflix documentary Making a Murderer has drummed up quite a debate since its release four weeks ago.

The 10-part documentary chronicles the story of Steven Avery, a Manitowoc County, Wisconsin man exonerated after 18 years in prison for the sexual assault and attempted murder of Penny Beernsten, who finds himself just two years later in the midst of an investigation regarding the murder of local photographer Teresa Halbach. The documentary explores the entire handling of Avery's case — from the arrest to the prosecution to his eventual conviction — and has sparked widespread criticism and outrage over the United States' justice system.

While I'm only five episodes in to the series, it's easy to understand why viewers are clamoring for more on the story. The good news is, Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandos is open to another season if anything new should arise in the case. Speaking at the Television Critics Association press tour, Sarandos told reporters that "the story is still unfolding, so we'll certainly take a look at it." Of course, without knowing the future of the case, nothing has been officially put in writing.

Demos and Ricciardi have still been gathering material for a possible second season, although "significant developments" in the case would need to arise before production starts.

“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,” said Ricciardi. “We have not returned to Wisconsin in the past four weeks.”

“As we said before, in relation to this story, this story is ongoing, these cases are open," added Demos. "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. And we are looking at other stories, as well.”

Since the release of Making a Murderer, fans have petitioned for the release of Steven Avery. Petitions launched on Change.org and at the White House have asked for a presidential pardon for both Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey. After garnering 129,000 signatures, White House officials responded, explaining that "clemency authority empowers the President to exercise leniency towards persons who have committed federal crimes." Because both Avery and Dassey are both state prisoners, the President cannot pardon them. I'd imagine this is something a second season would briefly touch upon.

[Deadline]