What to Know About Ryan Murphy’s ‘Monster’ Season 3: Killer Ed Gein, ‘Psycho’ Connection and More

After the success of his anthology series Monster, Ryan Murphy is basing the third season around convicted killer Ed Gein.

The first season of Netflix’s hit show debuted in 2022 and focused on Evan Peters‘ portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer. Monster, which also starred Niecy Nash, came under fire after the family of Dahmer’s victims revealed they weren’t consulted for the show.

Peters, meanwhile, opened up about how his mental health was affected after taking in the complicated role. “I’m going to take a little break from darker roles and explore the light,” he told Variety in December 2022. “It would be interesting to me to play something that is a little closer to home, a little more mundane and to explore the details of those kinds of experiences.”

Season 2 faced similar backlash after Erik Menéndez slammed Murphy’s portrayal of him and brother Lyle Menéndez. Murphy, however, stood by his work and even claimed that Monsters created renewed support in the Menéndez case, which ultimately led to a new hearing being ordered by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office.

“I don’t mind being complicated. I know that my intentions were good,” Murphy told People in September 2024. “We just really wanted people to talk about this topic and it’s an uncomfortable topic, which I get.”

Murphy called the criticism from the show’s subjects as “faux outrage,” adding, “Because if you look at what we do, we give those boys so much airtime to talk about what they claim as their physical abuse. We live in a sort of culture of outrage that a lot of things are knee-jerk, and that’s fine. I’m used to being controversial. It’s not new to me.”

Season 3 of the anthology series was renewed and will be titled Monster: The Original Monster with Hunnam taking on the role of Gein. Keep scrolling for everything to know about season 3 of Monster:

What Is ‘Monster: The Original Monster’ About?

Netflix announced in September 2024 that a third season of Monster would focus on Gein, who was a convicted murderer and suspected serial killer. The series will explore Gein’s life as the first “celebrity serial killer” while examining how true crime evolved into a pop culture phenomenon.

Who Stars on Season 3 of ‘Monster’?

In addition to Hunnam playing the lead role, Laurie Metcalf has been cast as Gein’s mother while Tom Hollander will play Alfred Hitchcock. Olivia Williams is starring as Hitchcock’s wife, Alma Reville.

When Will ‘Monster: The Original Monster’ Be Released?

Production on season 3 began in late October 2024 and one month later Hunnam started filming his scenes for the show. Monster: The Original Monster will likely premiere in late 2025 following the success of the Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story.

Who Is Ed Gein?

Nicknamed the “Butcher of Plainfield,” Gein was convicted of one count of first-degree murder and admitted to a second killing in the 1950s. It has been suspected that Gein was involved in multiple other crimes around his Plainfield, Wisconsin, hometown. Gein also admitted to exhuming multiple graves and fashioned grotesque keepsakes out of the bodies.

Gein was initially found unfit to stand trial and transferred to a mental health facility. In 1968 a judge found him competent to stand trial and Gein was found guilty of the murder of hardware store owner Bernice Worden. He was subsequently found legally insane and remained at a psychiatric institution until his death in 1984 at age 77 from respiratory failure resulting from lung cancer.

How Is the Movie ‘Psycho’ Involved in the Case?

Gein served as the inspiration behind movies such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Silence of the Lambs and Psycho, which will be explored in Monster: The Original Monster.

Has Ryan Murphy Explored Ed Gein’s Story on Screen Before?

During American Horror Story: Asylum, Zachary Quinto played a fictional serial killer named Dr. Oliver Thredson a.k.a Bloody Face who was inspired by Gein. Meanwhile, season 1 of Monster introduced Shane Kerwin as Gein even though there hasn’t been a documented connection between him and Dahmer.

Could Actors From Former Seasons Make an Appearance?

While Murphy is known for collaborating with actors on multiple projects (just check out the cast list for American Horror Story), his Monster anthology series hasn’t featured the same people across seasons.