New Interview with Bruno Heller

The seven Red John suspects were revealed on Sunday night’s The Mentalist finale. Or were they? With Red John seemingly knowing everything that’s in Patrick Jane’s head — including his list — how much can we trust that the elusive serial killer is really among those seven names? And what can we expect from The Mentalist in season 6? Below, creator Bruno Heller answers our burning questions about the finale and beyond.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So after all that craftiness on Patrick Jane’s part, Red John is still a step ahead of him. So can we trust that the list is accurate if Red John is so willing to confirm it?
Bruno Heller: Yes, we can trust that list. As much as much as Red John has been one step ahead with ahead, Lorelei Martins’ intervention changed the game. So as much as Red John is trying to play from a position of strength in reality Jane has gotten a lot closer. This last episode of the season really sets us up for next season: The hunt is on, no messing about.

Once again, you’re making moves that make me wonder if Patrick Jane is Red John — after all, how else could he know that memory from inside his head? But by saying Red John is definitely on the list, can we rule out the theory held by some fans that Jane is actually Red John?
Heller: I would say that definitively: Jane is not Red John.