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Following the unprecedented viewership success of Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story with its release on Netflix in September 2022, the streaming service renewed the controversial anthology series about infamous killers received a renewal for not one but two more seasons.
The first installment of that two-season pickup arrived two years later in September 2024 with the premiere of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Staying in line with the previous offering, the new series centered on the Menendez brothers has already received criticism for its portrayals of the story and some creative decisions that were made.
As for the second installment of the two-season pickup, Netflix has officially named Ed Gein as the new monster at the center of season 3, and Ryan Murphy revealed the season will be titled The Original Monster. While details about the upcoming Monster season 3 are still coming in, here's what fans should know so far!
Charlie Hunnam will play Ed Gein
On Sept. 17, two days before the release of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Netflix announced that Charlie Hunnam will star in Monster season 3 as serial killer Ed Gein. Murphy shared the exciting news about Hunnam's casting while at the Los Angeles premiere of Lyle and Erik.
Ed Gein was often referred to as the Butcher of Plainfield, having been to known to murder at least two women prior to his arrest in 1957. He also stole bodies from their graves and used their bones and skin as keepsakes. It's a real-life American horror story. Monster season 3 will be a period piece set in the 1950s and will likely be very, very graphic and gory.
Prior to the official announcement that Gein would be the subject of season 3, rumors had begun swirling that John Wayne Gacy could possible be the season's subject. The killer had been mentioned in season 1 and had a connection to Dahmer. However, that rumor turned out to be false — at least for now, barring any future iterations of Monster.
Hunnam hasn't worked with Murphy before in any of his past shows, but the Sons of Anarchy star will definitely deliver another aptly chilling performance for the anthology series. Once filming gets underway, Netflix will surely release a first-look photo of Hunnam in character.
More season 3 cast members announced
On Oct. 15, Variety reported three additional castings for the Monster season 3 main cast. Emmy Award winner Laurie Metcalf, Emmy nominee Tom Hollander, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Olivia Williams have joined Hunnam in key roles for the new season.
Metcalf will reportedly play Ed Gein's mother Augusta, while Hollander and Williams will portray film director Alfred Hithcock and his wife Alma Reville. Gein has been said to be among the inspirations for Hitchcock's famous film Psycho, which makes the director's inclusion as a character in the season all the more intriguing.
Hollander has recently collaborated with Murphy on Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, in which he played Truman Capote. For his performance, he earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Metcalf and Williams are both new to the Ryan Murphy-verse, but we can already see Metcalf's award nominations coming.
Filming begins in October 2024
According to Netflix's announcement for Monster season 3 on Tudum, the streaming service mentioned that production "begins next month." Because the announcement was made in September, that means filming will start in October 2024. In an interview with Collider, Murphy revealed filming begins on Halloween, Oct. 31.
The second season filmed between March and July 2024, which accounts for about four months of production. Filming on season 3 will likely last through the rest of 2024 and go into early 2025. If filming wraps in about February 2025, post-production will continue through the spring.
Monster season 3 could be released sometime in summer 2025 at the earliest, but both seasons have dropped in September. That could be a release pattern Netflix chooses to maintain.
Release Prediction: Late Summer or Fall 2025
Stay tuned for more Monster news and updates from Netflix Life!