Netflix has set October 3, 2025 as the release date for the third season of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true crime anthology series, now officially titled Monster: The Ed Gein Story. The series will explore the life and crimes of Ed Gein, a 1950s Wisconsin serial killer whose gruesome actions inspired some of Hollywood’s most iconic horror films. All eight episodes of the season will be available for streaming on Netflix at launch, with an expected runtime of approximately 60 minutes per episode. The series is projected to debut at 3 AM ET / 12 AM PT based on the platform’s previous release patterns for the Monster franchise.
Charlie Hunnam, known for his role in Sons of Anarchy, undergoes a dramatic transformation to portray Ed Gein, also known as the “Butcher of Plainfield.” The cast includes Laurie Metcalf as Gein’s mother, Augusta, alongside Tom Hollander as filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and Olivia Williams as Alma Reville, Hitchcock’s wife and collaborator. The season will also feature Lesley Manville as Bernice Worden, one of Gein’s victims, and Vicky Krieps as Ilse Koch. Other key cast members include Joey Pollari as Anthony Perkins, Tyler Jacob Moore as Sheriff Schley, and Suzanna Son in an undisclosed role.
Production and Development Details
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan developed Monster: The Ed Gein Story as the next chapter in their successful Monster anthology, which previously focused on Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers. The season was initially rumored to be titled The Original Monster but was later confirmed as The Ed Gein Story. Principal photography began in late October 2024, with filming taking place in Chicago and Los Angeles through spring 2025. Ian Brennan wrote all episodes and directed two, while Max Winkler directed the remaining six episodes.
The official synopsis describes Gein as a “friendly, mild-mannered recluse” who hid a “house of horrors” on his decaying Wisconsin farm. His crimes, driven by isolation and an obsession with his mother, included murder and grave robbery. The series will examine how Gein’s actions influenced popular culture, serving as the inspiration for characters like Norman Bates in Psycho, Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs.
Cast and Character Guide
The ensemble cast features both established and emerging actors. Charlie Hunnam leads as Ed Gein, with Laurie Metcalf playing his domineering mother, Augusta. Tom Hollander and Olivia Williams portray Alfred Hitchcock and Alma Reville, highlighting the connection between Gein’s crimes and the creation of Psycho. Lesley Manville appears as Bernice Worden, a hardware store owner murdered by Gein in 1957. Additional cast members include Will Brill as Tobe Hooper, the director of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Mimi Kennedy as Dr. Mildred Newman.
The series also includes Addison Rae as Evelyn Hartley, a teenager who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1953, though her connection to Gein remains unconfirmed. The casting aims to provide a comprehensive look at the individuals directly and indirectly impacted by Gein’s actions, as well as the cultural figures who later adapted his story into enduring horror legends.
Cultural Impact and Historical Context
Ed Gein’s crimes shocked the nation in the 1950s and left a lasting legacy on the horror genre. He was convicted of murdering two women—Bernice Worden and Mary Hogan—and suspected in other deaths, including that of his brother. Gein also exhumed corpses from local cemeteries to create grotesque artifacts from human remains, including furniture and clothing. His isolated upbringing and toxic relationship with his mother were key factors in his descent into criminality.
The series will explore how Gein’s life story became a blueprint for fictional serial killers in film and television. Beyond Psycho and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, his influence extends to characters in Con Air and American Horror Story: Asylum. Ryan Murphy’s anthology aims to show how Gein’s actions “ignited a cultural obsession with the criminally deviant” and redefined the American nightmare.
Release and Streaming Information
Monster: The Ed Gein Story will be available exclusively on Netflix. Viewers can stream the series through any of the platform’s subscription tiers: the Standard with ads plan ($7.99/month), the Standard without ads plan ($17.99/month), or the Premium plan ($24.99/month). The Premium option allows subscribers to add two additional members for an extra fee. The series is expected to follow the release model of previous Monster seasons, with all episodes dropping simultaneously for binge-watching.
The announcement of the release date was accompanied by first-look posters showing Charlie Hunnam in character as Gein, emphasizing the dramatic physical transformation required for the role. The marketing materials hint at the show’s dark tone and its focus on the psychological and societal elements of Gein’s story.
Future of the Monster Anthology
A fourth season of the Monster series is already in development, focusing on Lizzie Borden and the infamous axe murders of her father and stepmother. Ella Beatty is set to play Lizzie Borden, with Rebecca Hall and Vicky Krieps also starring. The continued expansion of the anthology underscores Netflix’s commitment to true crime stories that examine the intersection of crime, culture, and popular media.
The previous seasons of Monster have been major successes for Netflix. Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story garnered over 1 billion hours viewed, while Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story debuted at number one globally in its initial release. Monster: The Ed Gein Story aims to continue this trend by exploring one of America’s most influential and chilling criminal figures.
Credits: Wikipedia, Variety
