Following Evan Peter's acclaimed portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer in 2022, Ryan Murphy is set to release Monster season 2 and 3, each focusing on a different notorious serial killer. The success of Monster on Netflix has prompted the swift order for a second season. There are several important details to discuss, including changes after Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, the potential release date of Monster season 2, and the subject of the upcoming season. Evan Peters' outstanding performance in Monster earned him the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie, further intensifying interest in the show.
Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is a biopic series on Netflix that delves into the life of Jeffrey Dahmer (played by Evan Peters), the infamous serial killer responsible for the heinous acts of murder, dismemberment, cannibalism, and sexual abuse of his 17 confirmed victims. Despite controversy, the widespread popularity of Netflix's Monster has led to its renewal for two additional seasons. The first season thoroughly examines the details of the serial killer's crimes, providing a real-time depiction. The sophomore season will shift its focus to another gripping case, announced as Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story.
The Latest Monster Season 2 News
The headline for this content fragment rewrite:
Monster Season 2 Predicted Release Date
Monster Season 2 Welcomes New Cast Members to Portray Lyle and Erik Menendez
Netflix has unveiled a teaser for season 2 of The Monster, revealing that the highly anticipated Lyle and Erik Menendez story will make its way to screens in 2024. Following the release pattern of the first season, which premiered on September 21st, 2022, it is possible that season 2 will also debut around the same time, in line with Ryan Murphy's tradition of launching his shows during the fall season, coinciding with Halloween. Although there have been no updates on the filming progress of Monster season 2, the recent casting of the two lead roles suggests that production will soon kick into high gear. Regardless, viewers can expect the arrival of Monster season 2 on Netflix sometime in 2024, and a specific release date will likely be announced once filming concludes.
Monster Season 2 Cast
The cast for season 2 of The Monster is starting to come together, with Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez playing the roles of Lyle and Erik Menendez. This goes against Ryan Murphy's usual practice of casting actors he has worked with before, like Evan Peters in season 1. The show will also feature José and Kitty Menendez, the parents and victims of Lyle and Erik.
During their trials, the Menendez brothers had two lawyers. The first was Robert Shapiro, who also played a significant role in the O.J. Simpson case. The second lawyer was the controversial Leslie Abramson. Prosecuting attorneys against Lyle and Erik were Pamela Bozanich and David Conn.
Other potential cast members for season 2 of The Monster include key witnesses to the Menendez case, such as cousins Andy Cano and Diane Vander Molen. Erik's psychologist, Jerome Oziel, to whom he confessed the murders, and Jerome's mistress, Judalon Smyth, who played a significant role in the case, should also be expected to appear. While there will be other cast members in season 2, these individuals are the most important players in the case and are likely to participate.
Ryan Murphy has a vast talent pool that he typically prefers to select from, indicating that Monster season 2 might feature some familiar faces. Apart from collaborating with Evan Peters, Murphy enjoys casting the likes of Dylan McDermott, Jessica Lange, Connie Britton, Patti LuPone, Sarah Paulson, Matt Bomer, Darren Criss, and Leslie Grossman. Furthermore, actors such as Cody Fern, Zachary Quinto, Lea Michele, Billie Lourd, Angela Bassett, Finn Wittrock, and Jim Parsons, who have appeared in multiple Ryan Murphy projects, could also potentially join the cast of Monster season 2 in the remaining significant roles.
Monster Season 2 Story Details - Erik and Lyle Menendez Murders Explained
The case of Erik and Lyle Menendez received extensive media coverage in the early 1990s and has been the focus of various true crime documentaries. As a result, the story of Monster season 2 has already been depicted on screen. On August 20th, 1989, José Menendez, a wealthy corporate executive, and his wife Kitty were fatally shot in the den of their Beverly Hills residence. Erik and Lyle, their sons, used 12-gauge shotguns to carry out the murders. José was shot six times, while Kitty sustained ten gunshot wounds. Lyle contacted the police, informing them that he and his brother had been out watching Batman and attending the "Taste of L.A." festival, only to return home and discover their parents brutally slain.
Monster season 2 will delve into the lavish spending spree of Erik and Lyle Menendez following the murders, where they managed to blow through a staggering $700,000 before being apprehended. This excessive behavior caught the attention of the police, ultimately leading them to suspect the brothers as the culprits. Erik, burdened by guilt, confessed to the murders during a therapy session with Jerome Oziel, even going as far as threatening to kill him if he breathed a word of it to anyone. However, Oziel confided in his mistress, Judalon, who, in turn, broke up with him and promptly informed the police about Erik's confession. Already building a case against the Menendez brothers, the police wasted no time in arresting Lyle on March 8th, 1990, while Erik surrendered himself three days later upon returning from a trip to Israel.
The trials of Lyle and Erik Menendez will undoubtedly take center stage in Monster season 2, considering the extensive media coverage they received. Although the brothers initially hired Robert Shapiro as their defense attorney, it is Leslie Abramson who stole the spotlight. Abramson's argument revolved around the brothers' claims that they were driven to murder their parents due to a lifetime of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse inflicted upon them by their father José, while their mother Kitty was physically abusive as well. On the other hand, the prosecution argued that the motive behind the murders was solely financial gain. The Menendez brothers maintained that they resorted to extreme measures, as they found themselves in a position where they felt compelled to reveal their parents' hidden secrets, fearing that their parents would harm them first. As a result, they resorted to shooting their parents.
Monster Season 2 Trailer
The Menendez brothers faced their first trial, but it ended in a hung jury. This was due to their emotional testimonies, detailing the sexual abuse they endured at the ages of 6 and 8. Additionally, defense witnesses presented compelling evidence about José's character. However, their second trial had a different outcome. Despite efforts by Abramson, the defense was unable to convince the jury that the brothers acted in self-defense. Consequently, in season 2 of Monster, the second trial leads to the Menendez brothers being charged with first-degree murder. This results in a conviction of life without parole for both siblings. Since then, they have been kept apart in prison. In a well-known interview with Chris Cuomo, Erik confessed that he regretted his actions every single day.Netflix has released the teaser for season 2 of The Monster, which intriguingly omits any visual imagery. Instead, it captivates viewers by revealing the crime's specific date and location, before immersing them in the chilling authenticity of Lyle Menendez's actual 911 call to the police. During the call, Lyle distressingly discloses that an unknown perpetrator has brutally murdered his parents by gunshot. When questioned about the sequence of events, he emphasizes that he had not detected any suspicious noises and had merely returned home to the horrifying scene.
After ending the call with the 911 operator, the screen displays the title "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" along with the unsettling confirmation of its release in 2024. Although a complete trailer for Season 2 of Monster is not available yet, the teaser assures viewers that the series is being produced actively despite challenges such as the WGA writers strike.