Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan are back with another chilling chapter of their hit Netflix anthology series. For Season 4 of Monster, the creators are diving headfirst into one of the most infamous stories in American true crime history: the life and crimes of Lizzie Borden.
With a stellar cast and a deep dive into 19th-century psychology, the upcoming season promises to reexamine the dark legend that has haunted schoolyard rhymes for over a century. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming release.
## What to Expect from the Plot
In Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, newcomer Ella Beatty stars as a young Lizzie chafing against the strict confines of her Victorian-era household. Constrained by her stepmother, ignored by her undertaker father Andrew, and ultimately finding solace in a forbidden relationship with new housekeeper Bridget Sullivan, Lizzie is primed for a violent explosion.
Co-showrunner Ian Brennan notes that the series is designed to explore the psychology behind female rage. The narrative stretches from Lizzie’s strict 19th-century upbringing all the way into the 1990s, cleverly tying the Borden murders to another infamous historical figure: Aileen Wuornos.
## Meet the Star-Studded Cast
Finding the right actor to anchor the series was no easy task, but the creative team knew they found their lead almost immediately when Ella Beatty walked into the audition room.
The ensemble cast features a mix of familiar faces from previous Murphy projects alongside exciting newcomers:
- Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden, the first female subject of a Monster season.
- Vicky Krieps as Bridget "Maggie" Sullivan, the family housekeeper who introduces Lizzie to a world outside 1890s societal norms. Krieps also pulls double duty playing the bloodthirsty Countess Elizabeth Báthory in flashback sequences.
- Charlie Hunnam as Andrew Borden, Lizzie's stern father who works as an undertaker with a collection of sharpened axes.
- Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden, Lizzie's uptight stepmother.
- Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos, bridging the historical gap between the two legendary female criminals a century apart.
## Why This Season Stands Out
Unlike previous iterations of the anthology, Season 4 specifically interrogates how societal confinement and spiritual suppression can manifest as physical rage. By casting women at the narrative center and exploring historical pressures, the creators aim to deliver a fresh, analytical perspective on a tale most audiences think they already know. Stay tuned for official premiere date announcements from Netflix as production details unfold.
