Netflix will premiere a new installment of Ryan Murphy’s true-crime anthology this fall: the eight-episode series focusing on Lizzie Borden arrives on the streaming service on September 17. The platform has also circulated early production stills, offering a first glimpse of the show’s cast and tone ahead of release.
The series reexamines the notorious, unsolved murders in a wealthy New England household at the end of the 19th century, centering on the woman who has become a cultural cipher. Murphy’s project frames the events through a psychological lens, exploring themes of repression and rebellion as it reconstructs the case for a modern audience.
Ella Beatty, announced as the lead earlier this year, plays the woman at the story’s center. Beatty—who previously appeared on Murphy’s FX limited series about Truman Capote’s social circle—said the role allowed her to probe a complex, conflicted character and the broader social forces that shaped her life.
The show’s creative approach is explicit: it treats the historical events as both crime narrative and character study, examining how public perception and mythmaking have shaped Lizzie Borden’s legacy. That focus on the intersection of gender, power and violence is positioned as a through-line for the season.
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Release | All eight episodes on September 17 |
| Creator | Ryan Murphy (Monster anthology) |
Key cast members include:
- Ella Beatty — lead role
- Vicky Krieps — plays Bridget Sullivan
- Rebecca Hall — portrays Abby Borden
- Charlie Hunnam — cast as Andrew Borden
This entry is the fourth in Murphy’s “Monster” series, which has previously revisited the Jeffrey Dahmer case (2022), the Menendez brothers (2024), and Ed Gein (2025). Each season has mixed dramatization and character-focused storytelling, a formula that has sparked debate over ethical lines in dramatizing real crimes.
For viewers, the series offers two immediate points of interest: fresh dramatization of a long-circulating American mystery, and a contemporary reading that foregrounds social dynamics often left out of earlier retellings. Those looking for period detail will find the production design and costuming emphasized in the released images; those focused on themes will likely notice the series’ attention to gendered power and the idea of myth-making around violent events.
Industry watchers say the timing — a fall release that coincides with increased appetite for true crime drama during the season when audiences seek darker, character-driven shows — could broaden the series’ reach. Critics and viewers alike will be watching how the show balances historical record with dramatic interpretation, a recurring question for adaptations of real-life crimes.
Netflix’s early photos signal a moody, stylized tone rather than a straightforward procedural. Expect the marketing to lean into both the mystery and the show’s thematic framing as it builds toward the September launch.
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Hello, I’m Beckett. I cover series and show news for you to make your evenings more captivating.