The Killing: What Really Happened After Season 4?

Summary

The Killing had a troubled history with cancellations and renewals, but its fourth season on Netflix provided a satisfying conclusion for show creator Veena Sud.

The cast and crew have all embarked on new ventures, as showrunner Veena Sud is currently involved in film and television projects, and Mireille Enos is actively pursuing roles in both movies and TV series. Although there hasn't been an official announcement regarding a revival, Sud has shown interest in the possibility of a fifth season if approached by Netflix.

The moody police drama, The Killing, faced difficulties during its time on the air, leaving many to question if the series had come to a permanent end after its fourth season. Originally airing in 2011, this adaptation of the popular Danish TV series follows experienced detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) as she works alongside troubled young detective Stephen Holden (Joel Kinnaman), who has his own troubled past, to solve a series of murders. One of the notable aspects of The Killing is its atmospheric locations and its longform storytelling, as it breaks away from the traditional procedural format by unfolding a story across an entire season as opposed to a single episode.

The first season of The Killing received overwhelming acclaim from critics (according to Rotten Tomatoes), and the second season also garnered positive reviews. However, the series encountered difficulties thereafter, and there was uncertainty regarding its return for the third season. Despite these challenges, seasons 3 and 4 of The Killing eventually materialized. Nonetheless, due to the show's tumultuous history with cancellations and renewals, the fate of the series after its fourth season remained uncertain. The Killing, along with other groundbreaking American TV shows, faced a challenging journey for both its creators and fans.

The Killing Ended At Season 4

Despite multiple cancellations, The Killing's fourth season marked its final installment. Initially, AMC had intended to end the series after the second season, but a complicated negotiation involving the network and Netflix allowed for a third season. While the third season was well-received like the second, AMC again planned to cancel the show. In a surprising move, Netflix stepped in to save the twice-canceled series and exclusively stream its fourth season.

Fortunately for fans, Netflix's revival of The Killing granted showrunner and creator Veena Sud the opportunity to conclude the series on her own terms. In an interview with The Week, Sud expressed how receiving a third chance to continue felt like a triumphant moment, considering the turbulent history between AMC and the show. Though the presence of a fourth season came as good news, it also meant an official end for the series. Sud declared it the "final season" and emphasized that it would fulfill her vision of concluding Sarah Linden's story from the very beginning.

What The Killing Cast & Crew Are Up To Now

After facing challenges throughout four seasons, most of the cast and crew of The Killing have moved on to new endeavors. Showrunner Veena Sud ventured into the 2018 drama film The Lie and also took on executive producer roles for Seven Seconds and The Stranger. Lead actress Mireille Enos has engaged in various film and television projects, such as If I Stay and Electric Dreams, and even collaborated with Sud once again on The Lie. While there is no official confirmation of a revival for The Killing, Sud hinted at the possibility by expressing her interest in a potential fifth season if Netflix were to request it.