Monster, the true crime anthology series created by Ryan Murphy, is set to return with a fourth season, even as fans eagerly await the release of Season 3 on October 3, 2025. This upcoming chapter will transport viewers to the 19th century, promising a new era of chilling crimes and psychological intrigue.
Indeed, after Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers, it’s now Lizzie Borden’s turn, accused of the brutal axe murders of her father and stepmother in 1892. A case still shrouded in mystery today and poised to become the serial obsession of 2026. Meanwhile, Netflix has announced who will play Lizzie Borden in the fourth season of the series.
Also read ► Get ready: Monster season 3 is the most chilling yet! Coming tomorrow on Netflix
Monster – all the info on season 4
- Title: Monster – Season 4
- Genre: Crime, Thriller, Anthology, Historical
- Country of Production: United States
- Original Language: English
- Production Year: 2025–2026
- Creators: Ryan Murphy, Ian Brenna
- Main Cast: Ella Beatty, Rebecca Hall, Vicky Krieps
- Production: Ryan Murphy Productions, Netflix
- Netflix Release Date: Expected in 2026 (date to be confirmed)
Monster 4 – what to expect
The new season of Monster takes us back to Massachusetts, 1892. A small town is shaken by one of the most heinous crimes in American history. Lizzie Borden, a young woman from the upper middle class, is accused of ax murders of her father and stepmother. She lives in a stifling, strictly patriarchal household. The trial that follows is sensationalized by the press. It ends with an acquittal, but doubts about her role in the murders never fully fade.
Ryan Murphy seems determined to explore both myth and trauma. He portrays Lizzie as a symbol of a repressed and violent America, where women could be perpetrators as well as victims. The anthology format suits this dark story perfectly. It promises gothic atmospheres, psychological tension, and a disturbing historical portrait.
The cast of Monster – Season 4
The character of Lizzie Borden has been portrayed in past years by actresses such as Christina Ricci (The Lizzie Borden Chronicles) and Chloë Sevigny (Lizzie, 2018). Netflix aims high to find a face capable of embodying the emotional and moral complexity of a woman who remains the subject of theories and obsessions to this day.
The final choice fell on Ella Beatty. The role will be played by the actress who has already worked with co-creator Ryan Murphy in the anthology series Feud, particularly in the second season Capote vs. the Swans. The cast also includes Rebecca Hall (Godzilla vs. Kong) and Vicky Krieps (The Invisible Thread).
Ella Corrine Beatty, born in Los Angeles on April 8, 2000, is an emerging American actress and daughter of stars Warren Beatty and Annette Bening. After studying acting at the prestigious Juilliard School, from which she graduated in 2022, she began to gain attention on television, debuting in 2024 in the aforementioned series Feud. The role of Lizzie Borden is an intense and complex one that could mark a turning point in her young career.
Victorian repression and domestic madness
With the announcement of Season 4, Monster solidifies itself as one of the most compelling experiments in contemporary serialized true crime. Moreover, Ryan Murphy continues to go beyond mere crime reporting, turning each season into an exploration of American cultural identity. Meanwhile, Lizzie Borden, caught between Victorian repression and domestic madness, emerges as the perfect subject—not only for the brutality of her crime but also for the enduring symbolic power she holds in the collective imagination. Therefore, choosing Borden as the new face of the anthology is more than a narrative choice: it is a deep dive into the American gothic imagination, examining social repression, the disturbed psyche, and the misogyny of the era.
Behind the scenes: A recurring theme in american true crime
The story of Lizzie Borden is among the most retold and reinterpreted in American crime history. Beyond the films and shows already inspired by her case, she has influenced popular songs, novels, and even the chilling nursery rhyme: “Lizzie Borden took an axe…”. Her image—poised between innocence and guilt—captures the blurred line between historical fact and myth, making her the perfect subject for the series’ visionary and unsettling approach.
Will Monster season 4 be based on real events?
Yes. The fourth season is based on the real case of Lizzie Borden, accused in 1892 of murdering her father and stepmother. She was tried and acquitted, but doubts about her guilt have never been fully cleared. A news story turned into a dark legend.
When does season 4 of Monster come out on Netflix?
Season 4 of Monster is currently in development. Filming will begin soon, in autumn 2025, with a possible Netflix release in 2026.
