Netflix’s controversial documentary series Making a Murderer is coming back for more episodes.
Completed over the course of 10 years, the initial series, directed by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, profiles convicted murderer Steven Avery, and his co-defendant Brendan Dassey. The show casts doubt as to Avery and Dassey’s guilt (the two are currently serving time in prison for their alleged crimes).
The new installments will track the legal teams for Avery and Dassey, as they challenge the convictions, and the state, as it fights to keep them upheld. Netflix promises the episodes will document “the emotional toll the process takes on all involved”. Avery’s new lawyer, Kathleen Zellner, will feature prominently, as will Dassey’s legal team, led by Laura Nirider and Steve Drizin. Ricciardi and Demos are once again directing.
Said Ricciardi and Demos in a statement: “We are extremely grateful for the tremendous response to, and support of, the series. The viewers’ interest and attention has ensured that the story is not over, and we are fully committed to continuing to document events as they unfold.”
The first season faced a backlash, most notably from rightwing news anchor Nancy Grace, for allegedly neglecting key evidence that proves Avery and his nephew are guilty.
“We’re not prosecutors, we’re not defense attorneys, we do not set out to convict or exonerate anyone,” Ricciardi said in defense of her film in January. “We set out to examine the criminal justice system and how it’s functioning today. It would have been impossible for us to include every piece of evidence submitted to the court. So we took our cues from the prosecution, what they thought was the most compelling evidence. That’s what we included.”
Both Ricciardi and Demos had previously teased that new episodes were on the way: in January, the pair hinted at future installments, noting they recorded several new phone conversations with Avery.
Netflix has yet to announce an exact episode count, as well as the premiere date for the new batch. The future installments are not being currently billed as a second season for the show.
Making a Murderer recently garnered six Emmy award nominations, including outstanding documentary or non-fiction series.
