Monster Season 2: Everything about Jeffrey Dahmer follow-up series

❘ Updated: 2024-01-17T15:57:53

Lyle and Erik Menendez on trial, as shown in The Crimes that Changed Us: The Menendez Brothers

Monster Season 2, the follow-up to the Netflix drama series based on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, is in development – here’s everything we know, including the case it’s about, cast details, and more.

A dramatization on Jeffrey Dahmer was always going to be contentious – as is the case with any true crime retelling, critics expressed concerns that the show might romanticize a man responsible for the death of numerous people, many of them POC and LGBTQ+.

But what Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story did differently to numerous portrayals before it was that it highlighted these issues, and how authorities and public prejudice allowed Dahmer to get away with his crimes for so long.

Now a new case is getting the Monster treatment with Netflix greenlighting a second season – this time focusing on Lyle and Erik Menendez. Here’s what you need to know about Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

Is there a Monster Season 2 release date?

There isn’t a release date set in stone for Monster Season 2 just yet, although Netflix confirmed it will be out in “late 2024.”

In January 2024, the Daily Mail shared photos of the two lead actors on location in LA, suggesting that filming had started.

The news arrived after Netflix confirmed the second chapter would be going ahead in May 2023, with a focus on the Lyle and Erik Menendez case.

Monster Season 2 plot: What’s it about?

Season 2 of Monster, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, will focus on the real-life case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who gained notoriety for the murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in 1989. Their trial was highly publicized, with two very conflicting accounts of what happened.

The brothers argued that they acted in self-defense over concerns their father would kill them after they threatened to expose years of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse at the hands of their parents. But the prosecution told a different story, suggesting the Menendez brothers were motivated by greed and a desire to inherit their parents’ wealth.

Kitty, Erik, and Jose Menendez

Another point of contention in the case was the fact that the Menendez family was wealthy, living in an affluent neighborhood in Beverly Hills, California, which led to discussions about the impact of privilege and entitlement on the brothers’ actions. Lyle was 22 while Erik was 18 when they shot their parents at their home.

The brothers initially tried to cover up the crime by making it look like a mob hit or a random act of violence. They spent money lavishly in the aftermath of the murders, raising suspicions among family members and law enforcement. Their trial gained widespread media attention, with its details being closely followed by the public.

The first trials took place in 1993, which resulted in hung juries. In 1996, following a retrial, both Lyle and Erik were found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The case has continued to be a subject of interest and has been the basis for various documentaries, books, and television programs. Now, Murphy and Brennan will give a new perspective on the case with Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

Monster Season 2 cast: Who’s in it?

Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch will be playing the titular brothers, Lyle and Erik Menendez. Other cast members of Monster Season 2 on Netflix include:

Javier Bardem as father Jose Menendez
Chloë Sevigny as mother Kitty Menendez
Nathan Lane as journalist Dominick Dunne

Chavez and Koch are newcomers to the acting world, with the former’s previous major role being Spencer Cassadine in General Hospital. Koch, meanwhile, has appeared in Swallowed and They/Them.

Bardem is a decorated actor, having starred in the likes of No Country For Old Men, Skyfall, and Biutiful. The same can be said for Sevigny, whose credits include Kids, Gummo, and American Psycho.

We’ll be sure to add any new casting details here as and when they arrive.

Is there a trailer for Monster Season 2?

Since filming has only just started, there’s no trailer for Monster Season 2 just yet. But Netflix did share a video when announcing the second chapter, featuring the chilling 911 call made by the Menendez brothers, which you can watch below:

That’s everything we know about Monster Season 2 for now. You can find more of our true crime coverage below: