A new image from the set of Monster season 3 reveals the first look at Sons of Anarchy alum Charlie Hunnam as the infamous serial killer Ed Gein. Following the big success of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, which debuted on Netflix in September, it was announced that season 3 would focus on the killer Ed Gein. The third installment of the true-crime anthology is currently titled The Original Monster, with a supporting cast that so far includes Laurie Metcalf as Ed Gein’s mother, Tom Hollander as Alfred Hitchcock, and Olivia Williams as Alma Hitchcock.

AHS Zone shared a photo of Hunnam on X, which appears to show the actor smiling on the set of the Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan-created anthology. The photo is accompanied by a real-life, black-and-white image of Gein. In the set photo, Hunnam looks somewhat aged. He has short, gray hair which is combed over. He’s also dressed in a brown, patterned shirt which echoes Gein’s attire.

What The Latest Photo Says About Monster Season 3

It Could Be A Different Take On The Anthology

Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer in Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer getting arrested in Monster The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer in Monster with a polaroid being take on the side Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez looking stoic in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Cooper Koch as Erik crying in the courtroom in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle Menendez in Monsters-3 Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle Menendez and Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez in Monsters Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle Menendez aiming his gun in Monsters

In explaining why he chose Gein for Monster season 3, co-creator Ryan Murphy noted that he was interested in exploring where the fascination with serial killers began. Gein, who confessed to killing two women, and exhumed corpses to use their skin and bones as keepsakes, is thought of as the inspiration for horror films like Psycho and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. That is likely where the casting of the Hitchcocks comes in.

Monster season 3 has been filming since late October.

Monster season 3 taking a more distanced look at crime would help distinguish itself from the previous two installments. But the period is also significantly different, as demonstrated in Hunnam’s look. Gein died in 1984, gaining notoriety in 1954. This is quite a bit removed from the 1990s timeline that Murphy has often enjoyed revisiting.

Our Take On Monster Season 3

It Should Be Different

Raymond (Charlie Hunnam) sitting down with his hands folded and smiling in The Gentlemen. Ironhead (Charlie Hunnam) with his arms crossed in Triple Frontier. The police chasing Jax (Charlie Hunnam) on his bike in Sons of Anarchy Charlie Hunnam as Kai aiming a gun while wearing a hood in Rebel Moon - Part One A Child of Fire Charlie Hunnam as Kai and Sofia Boutella as Kora in Rebel Moon - Part One A Child of Fire

Monster has received plenty of backlash, accused of glorifying its subject in season 1. Season 2 was an even more wild and generally derided swing, as the marketing painted the Menendez brothers as lovers. Certain scenes also leaned into this idea, which was widely criticized online. Both installments come with their positives regarding performance and direction, but hopefully, the next outing can pull back on Murphy’s more salacious impulses.