A killer is born today thanks to the latest pairing between Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan and Netflix with the arrival of the first trailer for Monster: The Ed Gein Story. Featuring Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) as the titular Wisconsin-based killer, the latest installment of the hit series is set for an arrival on October 3. Joining Hunnam in the leading ensemble is a talented lineup that includes Tom Hollander (Pride & Prejudice), Suzanna Son (Fear Street: Prom Queen) and Laurie Metcalf (The Conners) with the latter moving from her crazed mother role in Scream 2 to that of Gein’s Bible-thumping mother.
The trailer showcases Murphy and Brennan’s vision and storytelling foundation for what will serve as the third installment of their dramatized true crime series. As the pair have in the past, they’ll unravel the twisted tale of the seemingly normal, albeit a little bit odd, farmer who, behind closed doors, was the keeper of monstrous secrets. They’ll also explore the mark that Gein’s grisly crimes left on American culture. Although the tale of Gein is far from the first example of the hold that true crime and all things macabre have long had on humankind, it’s certainly one of the most notorious, having inspired a slew of filmmakers, including Alfred Hitchcock and Tobe Hooper, who used him as inspiration for their films Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, respectively.
As always, a cast overflowing with talent has been assembled to bring another edition of Monster to the screen with a supporting cast that includes Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread), Lesley Manville (Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris), Olivia Williams (The Sixth Sense), Mimi Kennedy (Dharma & Greg), Charlie Hall (The Sex Lives of College Girls), Tyler Jacob Moore (Shameless), Robin Weigert (Tracker), Will Brill (The OA) and Joey Pollari (American Crime).
The Popularity of ‘Monster’
First hitting screens in 2022, the debut season of Monster explored the life and killings perpetrated by Jeffrey Dahmer. The title garnered much critical acclaim, largely thanks to the work of its leading cast members — Evan Peters and Niecy Nash — who gave incredible performances. The series was a record-breaking success for Netflix and garnered award nominations, with Peters winning a Golden Globe and Nash taking home an Emmy.
Two years later, Brennan and Murphy did it again with 2024’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. This time around, with the help of Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch, respectively, the production told the chilling tale of the brothers from Beverly Hills who murdered their parents and fought their sentence with claims of sexual abuse. While the sophomore set of episodes may not have enjoyed the same buzz as the first, it helped turn eyes back to the case and put the pair — who are still behind bars — back in the spotlight.
It’s hard to say where Monster: The Ed Gein Story will land on the popularity scale, but today’s trailer is certainly a step in the right direction. You can watch it above.
via Collider