12 September 2023 , 13:24
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Nearly 12 months have passed since the controversial release of Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story on Netflix, and now Ryan Murphy’s next project is on the way - and it will focus on a very different serial killer.
The first season of Monster follows the life of Jeffrey Dahmer (Evan Peters), a serial killer who murdered, dismembered, cannibalised, and sexually abused at least 17 people between 1978 and 1991. Despite receiving heavy backlash after the victims’ families claimed that they weren’t contacted ahead of filming, the biopic series quickly became Murphy’s biggest hit with more than one billion hours viewed in the first 60 days.
The staggering success saw Peters scoop the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie, while the 10-episode limited series also claimed a People's Choice Award for Favorite Binge Worthy Show. Following Monster’s immense popularity and award-winning victory, Netflix decided to renew the show for two additional seasons, with the next instalment titled The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, chronicling the real-life convicted brothers.
Here’s everything we know so far about Monster season 2.
What can we expect from the new season?
The Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 for brutally gunning down and killing their wealthy parents in their Beverly Hills mansion, but said they were driven to murder after facing a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
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The siblings, aged 21 and 18 at the time, claimed they acted in self-defence when they murdered Jose Menendez, a powerful music executive, and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez, a former beauty queen, in 1989. They accused their father of sexually abusing them, a claim that a cousin would later back up in a statement made to ABC News in 2017, reports Looper.
However, the prosecution argued that the killings were fuelled by greed and a desire to inherit their parents’ fortune. This came as the brothers were caught purchasing expensive items before their arrests, and both had been arrested on burglary charges before moving to Beverly Hills.
Brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez are serving life without parole for killing their parents (Sygma via Getty Images)According to What’s On Netflix, it is believed much of the story will take place in the courtroom, which was highly publicised and captured the nation’s attention. However, the series is also expected to feature the brother's lives, deal with their capture and conviction and eventual incarceration.
The first trial resulted in two hung juries, but the second finished in a double-degree murder conviction. Both brothers were sentenced to life without parole and are serving their terms at the R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.
Netflix says it also has exclusive access to Lyle and Erik Menendez for a forthcoming documentary feature.
Who is cast to star in The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story?
Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez have been cast to play Erik and Lyle in the upcoming series. So far, Koch and Chavez are the only confirmed cast members, meaning the actors portraying José and Kitty Menendez are still yet to be announced.
According to Screen Rant, the lawyers for the Menendez brothers - Robert Shapiro and Leslie Abramson - are predicted to be cast, as well as prosecutors Pamela Bozanich and David Conn. Key witnesses also rumoured to be star include cousins Andy Cano and Diane Vander Molen, and Erik's psychologist Jerome Oziel, to whom he admitted the murder.
Jerome's mistress Judalon Smyth also played an important role in the case, as she initially told police that she was listening on the other side of Oziel’s office door when Erik and Lyle discussed killing their parents. These names mark the biggest overall players expected to participate in the upcoming series.
Is there a Netflix trailer for Monster season 2?
Netflix released a quick teaser on YouTube on May 1, 2023, to give viewers a glimpse of what to expect in season 2. While it doesn’t feature any footage from the show, it does display the date and location of the crime before launching into Lyle’s real-life 911 call to the police.
During the phone call, Lyle tells the handler that someone killed his parents and confirms that they were shot. When asked what happened, he says he didn't hear anything, and he just came home.
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Erik Menendez was 18 at the time of the murders (Kypros via Getty Images)It then concludes with ‘Only on Netflix 2024’, suggesting that viewers have to be patient for Monsters season 2. The streaming platform has also confirmed that Monster will be an anthology series, meaning subscribers will be getting a different serial killer story in each season.
In a press release, Netflix said that the series will continue to focus on “other monstrous figures who have impacted society”, and will likely follow serial killers from American history, explains Fansided.
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is available to watch on Netflix now.