Netflix’s true crime anthology series is bringing its first female killer to the screen. The streamer has confirmed that Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story will premiere on September 17, 2026, with all eight episodes dropping at once. First look images have also been released, showing Ella Beatty in the lead role.
The fourth season shifts focus from male murderers to Lizzie Borden, the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her father and stepmother with an axe in 1892. The case remains one of America’s most famous unsolved mysteries, and Borden was ultimately acquitted.
Ella Beatty Takes on the Role of Lizzie Borden
Ella Beatty, daughter of actors Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, stars as Lizzie Borden. She is the first female lead in the Monster anthology series. Beatty previously appeared in Ryan Murphy’s Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.
Beatty shared her thoughts on the role: “I am so excited for viewers to experience our exploration of Lizzie Borden’s story and the questions that her life animates to this day. It has been a dream come true to investigate this complicated person’s psychology and to examine an American crime that feels almost mythic in proportion.”
She added: “This season gives us our first female Monster and delves into female rage and repression which I’ve found to feel strikingly relevant, and I cannot wait to share it with the world.”
Full Cast List for Season 4
The cast brings together several actors from previous Monster seasons and other Ryan Murphy productions.
Charlie Hunnam, who played Ed Gein in season three, returns to play Andrew Borden, Lizzie’s father. Rebecca Hall plays Abby Borden, Lizzie’s stepmother. Vicky Krieps takes on the role of Bridget Sullivan, the Bordens’ live-in maid.
Billie Lourd plays Lizzie’s older sister Emma Borden. Jessica Barden appears as Nance O’Neill, Lizzie’s actress friend. Sarah Paulson also makes an appearance as notorious killer Aileen Wuornos. Other cast members include Joey Pollari.
What the Series Will Cover
The official logline describes the season: “When the repressed daughter of a wealthy New England family and her rebellious maid find themselves trapped in a house built on humiliation and cruelty, they escape into a fantasy of sex, power and revenge.”
The murders that followed “don’t just shock the world — they give birth to an icon who refuses to live imprisoned in a cage, choosing instead to forge her own legend: shocking, monstrous and gloriously free.”
The series reportedly includes dark comedy elements and modern music choices, with songs from Kate Bush and indie rockers Wet Leg on the soundtrack. Reports also suggest the show explores a romantic connection between Lizzie and her maid Bridget Sullivan.
Ryan Murphy’s Anthology Returns
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan created the Monster anthology series. The first season focused on Jeffrey Dahmer, starring Evan Peters. It became one of Netflix’s most-watched series, reaching one billion viewing hours in its first 60 days.
Season two covered the Menendez brothers. Season three followed Ed Gein, with Charlie Hunnam in the lead role. The anthology has received 24 Emmy nominations across its first two installments.
Max Winkler directs the first episode of season four. He previously worked on Monster: The Ed Gein Story and Grotesquerie.
First Look Images Released
Netflix released several first-look images on August 4, 2026. One striking image shows Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden with her face covered in blood splatter. Other images show Charlie Hunnam and Rebecca Hall as Andrew and Abby Borden. Vicky Krieps also appears as Bridget Sullivan in the released photos.
The images offer a preview of the series’ dark Victorian atmosphere. Production on season four began in Los Angeles.
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Where to Watch
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story arrives on Netflix on Thursday, September 17, 2026. All eight episodes will be available to stream worldwide on that date. Previous seasons of Monster are currently available on Netflix for viewers who want to catch up.
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