Edward Gein at Wautoma court where he was arraigned on charges of armed robbery ; Charlie Hunnam attends the London premiere of ‘Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child Of Fire’ at BFI IMAX Waterloo in London on Dec. 7, 2023.

Ryan Murphy is bringing one of America’s most chilling horror stories to life with the third season of Monster.

The Netflix anthology series reenacts some of the most notorious murder cases across the country, including Jeffrey Dahmer’s horrifying killing spree and the crimes of Erik and Lyle Menendez. With Charlie Hunnam in the leading role, season 3 will dive into the haunting story of Ed Gein, a notorious 1950s murderer who not only took multiple lives but also exhumed graves to create household and clothing items from human remains.

Adapting his narrative into the next Monster season was not an easy decision, Murphy told Tudum.

“I only write things or direct things that I’m interested in exploring, sometimes to figure things out for myself. So it’s personal to me, what I make,” the showrunner said, adding that it took him a “long time to land on Ed Gein” for the third season.

The installments have been a streaming success since the series debuted in September 2022. Season 1 — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story — made history as one of only four Netflix shows to surpass one billion viewing hours in its first 60 days. Meanwhile, season 2 — Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story — followed suit, dominating Netflix’s top 10 for weeks after its September 2024 release.

Here’s everything to know about season 3 of Monster.

What is Monster season 3 about?

Ed Gein signed in at State Crime Lab before being questioned about the murder of Bernice Worden on Nov. 20, 1957.Getty

The third installment of the Netflix anthology series will tell the real-life story of serial killer and grave robber Gein and his years-long murder spree.

Like the other installments in the Monster anthology, season 3 will likely focus on how Gein became the maniacal murderer he was, starting with his Plainfield, Wis., origins. Gein was born in 1906 to an alcoholic father and an allegedly fanatically puritanical mother, according to the MGM+ docuseries Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein.

His mother, who will be played by Roseanne’s Laurie Metcalf, allegedly forbid Gein from interacting with most of society, believing them all to be evil. As a result, the docuseries claimed that Gein became incredibly dependent on and idolized her, causing him to spiral and become a recluse after her 1945 death. Soon after, he developed a disturbing interest in dead human bodies.

Gein’s gruesome crimes have also inspired films, including Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Silence of the Lambs.

Who was Ed Gein?

Ed Gein is escorted from the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory to the county jail after confessing to two murders.Getty

Gein became an infamous serial killer in the 1950s when authorities discovered he had not only committed multiple murders, but also exhumed graves from a nearby cemetery, using human remains to craft household items and clothing.

The Wisconsin native initially filled his home with body parts, including genitalia, fueling theories of necrophilism. His crimes escalated to murder, and in 1957, he was arrested after killing local hardware store owner Bernice Worden.

Gein was convicted of murdering both Worden and Mary Hogan, who had vanished years earlier. Her head was later found in his home, linking him to her death. He also became the prime suspect in his brother’s mysterious 1944 death.

A police raid uncovered gruesome evidence, including skulls, decapitated heads and body parts, earning Gein the nicknames “The Butcher of Plainfield” and “The Plainfield Ghoul.”

Though found guilty, Gein was deemed insane and unfit for trial, spending the remainder of his life in mental institutions. In 1984, he died of lung cancer at 77 years old.

Who is in the cast of Monster season 3?

(L) Charlie Hunnam attends the 2024 Met Gala on May 6, 2024, in New York City ; (M) Laurie Metcalf attends ‘Somewhere In Queens’ New York screening at Metrograph on April 17, 2023 ; (R) Tom Hollander attends FX’s ‘Feud: Capote VS. The Swans’ premiere at Museum of Modern Art in New York City on Jan 23, 2024.Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty ; Jamie McCarthy/WireImage ; Arturo Holmes/WireImage

Hunnam — who is best known for his role as Jax Teller in FX’s Sons of Anarchy — will star as serial killer and grave robber Gein.

Per Variety, the actor is joined by Metcalf, who will appear as Gein’s mother, Augusta Gein. Meanwhile, Pride & Prejudice‘s Tom Hollander will portray Alfred Hitchcock, and Dune: Prophecy‘s Olivia Williams will take on the role of Alma Reville, Hitchcock’s wife.

When did Monster season 3 begin filming?

Ryan Murphy attends the 2019 Time 100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 23, 2019.Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Filming for season 3 of Monsters began in November 2024. Excited fans got a sneak peek of Hunnam dressed as Gein on set, complete with trousers, a plaid shirt and jacket and a comb-over hairstyle.

When will Monster season 3 come out?

Charlie Hunnam attends the Apple TV+ Original Series ‘Shantaram’ Premiere at Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles on October 3, 2022.Amy Sussman/Getty

A season 3 release date has yet to be announced. However, seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Netflix in the meantime. Season 1 tells the story of serial killer Dahmer, while season 2 follows the Menendez brothers, teenagers convicted of killing their parents, José and Kitty Menendez.