The anthology Monster created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, has once again shifted the spotlight onto a notorious figure from American history. Season 4, titled Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story marks the series’ first foray into a female serial killer, and it arrives on Netflix amid a growing appetite for dramatized true-crime narratives.
Lizzie Borden comes to life on screen
After an exhaustive casting search, the producers settled on Ella Beatty to embody the controversial heiress. Beatty describes her Lizzie as a woman “ahead of her time,” constrained by a domineering stepmother and an indifferent father in Fall River, Massachusetts. She adds, “She is the perfect example of a creature of their time,” emphasizing how societal repression in the 1800s can morph into violent expression.
Supporting Beatty is a mix of newcomers and familiar faces. Vicky Krieps portrays the housekeeper Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan, who also doubles as the infamous Countess Elizabeth Báthory in flash-back sequences shot in Italy. Charlie Hunnam returns as the axe-obsessed patriarch Andrew Borden, while Rebecca Hall steps into the role of the cold-calculated stepmother Abby Borden. The season further stretches across time, linking Lizzie’s 1892 murders to a 1990s storyline in which Sarah Paulson appears as Aileen Wuornos, a modern-day killer who finds comfort in Lizzie’s legacy.
According to co-showrunner Ian Brennan, the casting process felt like a “five-second test”: “We cast a super wide net and nobody could do it until we saw her.” The ensemble’s chemistry, especially between Beatty and Krieps, has been highlighted as a driving force behind the show’s intense, character-focused storytelling.
Looking ahead: can we expect a Monster Season 5?
While Netflix has confirmed the fourth season, the network has not yet announced a renewal for a fifth installment. The series’ release pattern, however, offers a clue: Season 1 debuted in 2022, Season 2 followed in 2024, Season 3 arrived in 2025, and the Lizzie Borden chapter premiered in 2026. All have landed during the “spooky” months of September or October, suggesting a potential Season 5 could surface in September 2027.
Ian Brennan has hinted at a deep well of possibilities for the next chapter. In a recent interview he mentioned names such as BTK (Dennis Rader)Ted Bundy and the Green River Killer. He also referenced the Italian case of Luigi Mangione calling it “fascinating.” Though these figures are all male, Brennan admits that selecting a subject is “tricky because most murderers just aren’t that interesting” and that the creative team strives to avoid glorifying horror for its own sake.
The show’s focus on the psychology behind the killers—questioning whether they are “born or made”—means that any future season will likely continue to explore the societal cages that shape violent behavior. This thematic thread is already evident in the way Monster juxtaposes Lizzie Borden’s 19th-century oppression with Wuornos’s late-20th-century desperation, presenting a “triptych of serial killers” that maps female rage across centuries.
Fans have also speculated about expanding the roster of female antagonists. With Aileen Wuornos already appearing, a potential Season 5 could spotlight other women who have slipped into infamy, offering fresh angles on the “why” behind their deeds. Until an official announcement arrives, the series’ track record of surprising its audience suggests that a fifth season, if green-lit, could arrive on Netflix’s schedule in the autumn of 2027.
