‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ Release Date, Cast, Plot and What to Know About the Ella Beatty Show

Ryan Murphy’s true crime anthology is shifting from modern serial killers to a chilling Victorian nightmare, and it promises to be just as unsettling. ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story‘ will introduce the franchise’s first female lead, with early insights indicating this season will delve deeply into psychological horror wrapped in period drama.

This new chapter revisits the notorious 1892 axe murders that transformed a quiet Massachusetts spinster into one of America’s most captivating true crime figures. With an impressive cast and a haunting trailer already circulating, excitement is rapidly building.

‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ is scheduled to debut on Netflix on September 17, 2026, with all eight episodes of the limited series available for binge-watching at once. Fans can expect to experience the entire axe murder saga in one go rather than waiting week by week.

This season marks the fourth installment of the anthology created by Ian Brennan, following previous stories centered on Jeffrey Dahmer, the Menendez brothers, and Ed Gein. Notably, this is the first time the ‘Monster’ anthology has focused on a female protagonist, a change that Murphy has described as long overdue.

Production for the season concluded months before its premiere. Filming began in Los Angeles in September 2025 and wrapped in March 2026, allowing the creative team ample time to refine the final cut ahead of its fall launch.

Netflix has teased audiences with an initial trailer, followed by a longer, more detailed look at the season. An extended, two-minute trailer was released on August 20, showcasing Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos. This casting choice raised eyebrows among longtime fans of the franchise, as it introduces a real-life killer into the narrative.

This casting twist hints at a narrative structure familiar to fans of the show. The inclusion of Wuornos suggests that this season will traverse multiple timelines, similar to ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’ from last year. Rather than a straightforward retelling, viewers can anticipate a story that shifts between Lizzie’s historical context and a modern perspective on true crime fascination.

The trailer emphasizes the series’ signature mix of glamour and horror. A museum curator in the footage remarks that the truth behind the events in the Borden house remains a mystery, encapsulating the intrigue the series aims to explore.

Ella Beatty stars as Lizzie Borden, and her casting has sparked considerable interest due to her impressive lineage. Beatty, a Juilliard-trained actress and the daughter of Hollywood icons Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, is taking on her most significant role to date after previously collaborating with Murphy on ‘Feud: Capote vs. the Swans.’

She is joined by a talented ensemble cast, including several veterans from the ‘Monster’ franchise. Vicky Krieps portrays Bridget Sullivan, the Bordens’ live-in maid, while Charlie Hunnam takes on the role of Lizzie’s father, Andrew Borden, and Rebecca Hall plays her stepmother, Abby Borden. Hunnam’s return to the franchise, having previously played Ed Gein, adds an interesting layer for fans tracking recurring characters.

The supporting cast features several recognizable names. Billie Lourd appears as Emma, Lizzie’s older sister, and Jessica Barden plays Nance O’Neil, an actress who is a friend of Lizzie’s. Sarah Paulson’s dual timeline role as Aileen Wuornos further elevates an already star-studded lineup.

The official logline presents a household marked by repression and simmering anger long before the murders take place. When the oppressed daughter of a wealthy New England family and her defiant maid find themselves trapped in a home filled with humiliation and cruelty, they escape into a fantasy of sex, power, and revenge. This escape, according to Netflix, ultimately leads to the infamous killings that made Borden a household name.

The real-life case remains unresolved more than a century later, and the series seems to embrace that ambiguity rather than providing simple answers. Lizzie was never convicted due to circumstantial evidence and the absence of a definitive murder weapon linked to her. Despite her acquittal, her name has remained synonymous with the crime ever since.

Thematically, the creative team intends to use the murders as a lens for broader social commentary. According to the show’s creator, this season will explore themes of misogyny, gender roles, and societal expectations placed on women during the Victorian era, while also examining class and sexuality through Lizzie’s relationship with Bridget Sullivan.

With a complex true crime mystery, a stellar cast, and a dual timeline structure connecting Lizzie Borden to Aileen Wuornos, ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ is set to ignite discussions about whether Lizzie truly committed the axe murders. Will this season sway your opinion on her guilt, or will you remain steadfastly in her corner by the end?