Monster’ season 4 begins filming with Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden
When Monster: The Ed Gein Story finally landed on Netflix, it didn’t just pull viewers in; it took over the charts. The third season of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s anthology reached over 12 million views in its first three days and hit number one in 11 countries.
With that kind of success, it was only a matter of time before the next “monster” stepped into the spotlight. And now, cameras are rolling in Los Angeles for Monster season four, and this time, the story turns to one of the most infamous names in American crime: Lizzie Borden.
The new season will star Ella Beatty, taking on the complex role of the woman who stood trial for the brutal 1892 murders of her father and stepmother. It’s a case that has come up repetitively for over a century. Mostly it is because of its unanswered questions, and the rest because it blurred the line between suspicion and fascination.
Beatty, known for her roles in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and the Sundance feature If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, takes over the Monster mantle from Charlie Hunnam, who led the previous season as Ed Gein. There’s good news for those who love Hunnam in the Ed Gein Story, as he will return this time as Lizzie’s father, Andrew Borden, creating a rare crossover within the anthology.
The cast also includes an impressive lineup: Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden, Lizzie’s stepmother. Then you have Vicky Krieps as the family’s maid, Bridget Sullivan, Billie Lourd as Lizzie’s sister, Emma, and Jessica Barden as Lizzie’s actress friend, Nance O’Neill. Monster regular Max Winkler is directing the first episode, continuing the show’s dark, cinematic tone.
Who Was Lizzie Borden?
Lizzie Borden was a 32-year-old woman from Fall River, Massachusetts, who became the centre of one of America’s earliest and most talked-about murder trials. In August 1892, her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby, were found dead in their home, both killed with a hatchet-like weapon. Lizzie, who was at the house during the time of the murders, was soon charged with the crime.
The case became a media sensation, partly because of its shocking nature and partly because of who Lizzie was. She was a well-educated woman from a respectable family. Her composure during questioning and trial drew national attention, and when the verdict finally came, she was acquitted due to lack of physical evidence.
Still, public opinion never truly let her go. Some believed she was innocent, while others thought she got away with murder. Lizzie lived quietly in Fall River until her death in 1927, but her name became forever linked to the mystery surrounding her parents’ deaths.
With its previous instalments, DAHMER, The Menendez Story, and The Ed Gein Story, the Monster series has turned real-life crimes into powerful psychological portraits. The Lizzie Borden chapter seems set to do the same, exploring not just the crime but the era that shaped its reaction.