'Mindhunter' Season 2 Trailer Reveals Return of a Favorite Season 1 Killer

Netflix released a pair of trailers for Mindhunter Season 2 last week. The first teaser already has almost a million views on YouTube. The second, an unlisted full-length trailer, only racked up a few thousand. Together, they reveal a lot about the new season of the David Fincher-produced series that’s all about serial killers. But more importantly, they confirm that a breakout star from Mindhunter Season 1 will return for Season 2.

Light spoilers for Mindhunter Season 2 below.

Of all the murderous monsters in Mindhunter Season 1, the most memorable was almost certainly Ed Kemper (played by Cameron Britton). The American serial killer and necrophile was known for his stature (6 feet 9 inches) and his high IQ (145). He was also known for killing 10 people, including his mother, her parents, and a series of young women.

In Mindhunter, Britton plays Kemper with a softspoken intelligence that almost humanizes the character, who serves as a valuable resource to the main characters as they attempt to understand what makes a serial killer tick. When Inverse spoke to Britton earlier this year, he declined to reveal if he’d return for Season 2, but the new trailers make it clear that he’s back and possibly playing an even bigger role as he prepares the protagonists for their meeting with Charles Manson.

“Manson is small,” Kemper says, “like really small. Try not to stare.”

It’s still unclear how big a part Kemper will play in Mindhunter Season 2, or whether his role will be largely supplanted by Manson. However, considering Britton’s Season 1 performance, that would be a loss for the series. In that interview with Inverse, the actor offered an explanation for why villains like Kemper are so fascintating.

“Kemper is incredibly comfortable in his own skin,” he said. “He’s a much more standard villain. Most villains know exactly who they are and what they want, it’s the heroes who are lost.”

Beyond Manson and Kemper, Mindhunter Season 2 will also focus on the Atlanta Child Murders, which may provide our heroes with their greatest challenge yet. The trailers reveal that this horrific murder spree is ongoing during the second season, and while city officials blame the KKK, the protagonists argue that the killer is likely a single serial killer.

Who’s right? Since Mindhunter is based on true events, you could get the answer right now with a quick Google, but why not wait until the new season premieres and surprise yourself?

Mindhunter Season 2 hits Netflix on August 16.