Netflix has released the first teaser for Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, the fourth instalment of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s anthology drama series. The new season explores the infamous case of Lizzie Borden, a young woman who was accused of killing her father and stepmother with an axe in 1893.
The official logline for the series reads, “When the repressed daughter of a wealthy New England family and her rebellious maid find themselves trapped in a house built on humiliation and cruelty, they escape into a fantasy of sex, power, and revenge. The gruesome unsolved murders that follow don’t just shock the world—they give birth to an icon who refuses to live imprisoned in a cage, choosing instead to forge her own legend: shocking, monstrous, and gloriously free.”
Ella Beatty takes on the role of Lizzie Borden, who was 32 and worked as a Sunday school teacher at the time of the murders. Borden was accused of killing her father, Andrew Borden, and her stepmother, Abby Borden, inside their family home. Reports from the case claimed that the victims were struck nearly 40 times with an axe.
Borden was later put on trial for the killings. Despite the serious accusations and intense public attention surrounding the case, a jury found her not guilty. The mystery surrounding the murders has continued to attract interest for more than a century.
Rebecca Hall plays Abby Borden, while Charlie Hunnam portrays Andrew Borden. Hunnam previously appeared in the third season of Murphy’s Monster, where he played serial killer Ed Gein. His performance recently earned him an Emmy nomination.
The eight episode season also features Billie Lourd, Joey Pollari, Sarah Paulson and Jessica Barden.
Murphy and Brennan created the series, with Brennan also serving as a writer. They executive produce alongside Max Winkler, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, Louise Shore, Nissa Diederich, Todd Kubrak, Carl Franklin and Tanasa Popa. Winkler and Sarah Adina Smith serve as directors.
The new season is the fourth entry in the Monster anthology and the first to focus on a female killer. Earlier seasons covered Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed Gein and the Menendez brothers.
Lizzie Borden’s story has also been adapted before, including The Lizzie Borden Chronicles starring Christina Ricci and the 2018 film Lizzie, featuring Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart.