Netflix surprised-released the “Choose Your Own Adventure” episode ofBlack Mirror, calledBandersnatch, just in time for the holiday season, but it came at a cost. You’ll recall that right after Christmas in 2017, Netflix releasedBlack MirrorSeason 4 to ring in the new year. It sounds like a similar plan was eyed for 2018, but developing and executing the technologically intricateBandersnatchcaused theBlack Mirrorteam to shuffle their plans a bit.
Speaking withTHR,Black MirrorcreatorCharlie Brookerreveals thatBandersnatchcame about while brainstorming new ideas forBlack MirrorSeason 5, but the choose your own adventure episode took more time than they expected:
“We knew going into it that this would impact our time, but it hasn’t stopped us from doing other films,” Brooker says of working on other episodes simultaneously. “I think it’s fair to say that it took us more time and effort than we had initially anticipated.'”
Netflix has yet to announce aBlack MirrorSeason 5 release date beyond confirming it’ll be sometime in 2019, and co-showrunnerAnnabel Joneselaborated a bit on whyBandersnatchtook so long to make—and why the Season 5 delay was ultimately not a huge concern:
“There’s so much content and not reflected in the content is the craftsmanship, and what you have to take out to make the world exist — or feel as if it does exist in one cohesive world. So it did take an enormous amount of time and as a result, then season five sort of gets shifted back a little bit. But this is such a huge, interesting new opportunity for Netflix that we’re a part of. And there is so much fun to be had with it. That’s one thing that I hope people take away from it: I hope that you just enjoy the experience.”
Indeed,as I wrote previouslyBandersnatchworks a bit better as a game than as a cohesive episode ofBlack Mirror, but it’s still pretty fun. Moreover, while the episode is jam-packed withBlack MirrorEaster Eggs, Brooker tells THR thatWill Poulter’s Colin Ritman could conceivably reappear in otherBlack Mirrorepisodes, offering even more connective tissue for the series:
“Ostensibly, he could go on forever, because he’s both dead and not dead. I like the idea that he could show up anywhere. I could see him popping up in ‘San Junipero' or running around in ‘White Bear.'”
That would certainly make sense, as theBlack MirrorSeason 4 finale “Black Museum” once and for all confirmed that these episodes all exist within the same universe. Casting forBlack MirrorSeason 5 is under lock and key, but don’t be surprised if Poulter makes a cameo somewhere.
As for theBlack MirrorSeason 5 release date, stay tuned. Now thatBandersnatchis out in the world, Brooker and Jones can turn their attention to finishing up the rest of the new episodes.
