Netflix has officially confirmed that the next chilling chapter in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s hit anthology series Monster is on the way, and this time it’s diving into one of America’s most enduring and gruesome mysteries: the legend of Lizzie Borden. Titled Monster: The Legend of Lizzie Borden or simply Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, the fourth season of the true-crime drama is currently in production, marking the franchise’s first installment centered on a female figure accused of monstrous acts. With production underway in Los Angeles since October 2025, anticipation is building for what promises to be a gripping, atmospheric exploration of the infamous 1892 axe murders that shocked the nation and continue to captivate true-crime enthusiasts more than a century later.
The story of Lizzie Borden has long been a staple of American folklore. On August 4, 1892, in the quiet mill town of Fall River, Massachusetts, Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby, were brutally killed in their home on Second Street. Andrew suffered multiple blows to the head with a hatchet-like weapon while resting on the sofa in the sitting room, and Abby was found upstairs in the guest bedroom, her skull crushed by similar strikes. Lizzie, then 32 years old, discovered her father’s body and raised the alarm, claiming she had been in the barn at the time. Her stepmother’s corpse was found shortly after. The crime scene was horrific—blood everywhere, the victims hacked nearly beyond recognition—yet no murder weapon was conclusively identified, and no clear motive emerged beyond family tensions and financial disputes.
Lizzie’s trial in 1893 became a media sensation, dubbed the “trial of the century.” She was portrayed by the press as either a cold-blooded killer or a wronged woman trapped in a repressive Victorian household. Prosecutors argued she had motive, opportunity, and a suspicious demeanor, pointing to her burning a dress shortly after the murders (which she claimed was stained with paint) and the lack of intruders in the locked home. The defense highlighted her gender, social standing, and the absence of direct evidence—no blood on her clothes, no eyewitnesses. After a sensational 10-day trial, the all-male jury acquitted her in less than an hour. Lizzie walked free but lived the rest of her life as a social outcast in Fall River, ostracized by much of the community until her death in 1927.
The case has inspired countless books, films, plays, and even a nursery rhyme: “Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother forty whacks…” Adaptations range from the 1975 TV movie starring Elizabeth Montgomery to the 2014 Lifetime miniseries with Christina Ricci, and the 2018 film Lizzie featuring Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart. Yet Ryan Murphy’s Monster promises a fresh, unflinching take, blending psychological depth with the anthology’s signature style of examining the human monster behind the headlines.
Leading the cast is Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden. The daughter of Hollywood icons Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, Beatty makes her high-profile starring debut in the role after a breakout appearance in Murphy’s Feud: Capote vs. The Swans. Her portrayal is expected to delve into Lizzie’s inner world—her isolation, resentment toward her controlling father and stepmother, and the societal pressures that may have driven her to desperation. Beatty’s fresh face brings a new vulnerability to the character, contrasting with the more seasoned performers around her.
Charlie Hunnam, who terrified audiences as Ed Gein in Season 3, returns to the franchise as Andrew Borden, Lizzie’s stern, wealthy father. Hunnam’s ability to convey quiet menace and patriarchal authority makes him a compelling choice for the role of the domineering patriarch whose frugality and emotional distance fueled family discord. Rebecca Hall steps in as Abby Borden, the stepmother whose presence exacerbated tensions in the household. Hall, known for nuanced performances in films like The Night House and Christine, will likely portray Abby as more than a villain—perhaps a woman caught in a difficult marriage and family dynamic.
The supporting cast adds further depth. Vicky Krieps plays Bridget Sullivan, the Bordens’ live-in Irish maid who was present during the murders and became a key witness. Krieps, fresh from her role in Monster: The Ed Gein Story, brings authenticity to the working-class immigrant perspective often overlooked in retellings. Billie Lourd portrays Emma Borden, Lizzie’s older sister who shared the home but was away during the killings; her character provides insight into the sisters’ complicated bond. Jessica Barden rounds out the ensemble as Nance O’Neill, a stage actress and close friend of Lizzie in her later years, whose relationship with the acquitted woman stirred additional controversy and speculation.
Production details hint at Murphy’s hallmark approach: lush period visuals, tense courtroom drama, and intimate family scenes that build psychological suspense. The series will likely explore not just the murders but their aftermath—the trial’s media frenzy, Lizzie’s ostracism, and the enduring cultural fascination with her guilt or innocence. As the first female “monster” in the anthology, this season offers an opportunity to examine gender, class, and power in 19th-century America, questioning whether Lizzie was a killer or a scapegoat in a patriarchal society.
Fans of the Monster franchise—starting with the record-breaking Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, followed by Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, and Monster: The Ed Gein Story—know to expect unflinching depictions of violence alongside thoughtful character studies. While the series has faced criticism for its graphic content and dramatization of real tragedies, it consistently draws massive viewership, sparking debates about true crime’s place in entertainment.
No exact premiere date has been announced, but given the franchise’s pattern of late September or early October releases and production wrapping in early 2026, Monster: The Legend of Lizzie Borden is expected to arrive on Netflix in fall 2026. With filming progressing steadily and the cast already generating buzz, this installment is poised to reignite interest in one of history’s most puzzling cases.
Whether Lizzie Borden wielded the axe or not may never be known with certainty, but Netflix’s Monster is set to ensure her legend lives on in vivid, unsettling detail. For true-crime aficionados and newcomers alike, the wait for this haunting new chapter is almost over.
