Everything We Know About Netflix's Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Netflix is known for releasing thought-provoking, crime-related television series such as Night Stalker, Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel, The Ripper, and How To Make A Murderer. Now the platform is tackling a mini-series about real-life serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, helmed by Ryan Murphy of American Horror Story fame. Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story will see Murphy team up with writing partner Ian Brennan, who he also worked with on shows like Glee and Scream Queens.
Even if viewers aren't fans of true crime, they may know who Jeffrey Dahmer is, and have some awareness of the long line of atrocities he was accused of committing from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. Here's what is known so far about Netflix's Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, including a bit of background on its premise, who's joined the cast thus far, and when the series might release.
Monster will take a deeper look at Dahmer's crimes
Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story will tell the tale of Jeffrey Dahmer, one of America's most notorious and infamous serial killers. Dahmer is believed to have taken the lives of 17 people between the years of 1978 and 1991 before his reign of terror finally came to an end. The story will be told from the victims' perspectives, and will highlight the incompetence of the police during this time, and how Dahmer was able to keep up his façade for years while he committed his heinous crimes.
According to ET Online, the limited series will include 10 episodes that will depict at least 10 major instances when Dahmer could've and should've been taken in by the police and charged for his actions. Like most series, the narrative will stick to true documented events, but not everything will be exact. Because it is a television show, things might be altered or shifted for one reason or another.
The cast of Monster has well-known actors and actresses on board
As of March 2021, it's been confirmed that AHS vet Evan Peters will be cast as Dahmer. This seems fitting to include Peters in this new Murphy project since he's delved into some dark characters in the AHS series. It's also perfect timing since Peters just wrapped up shooting scenes for the upcoming HBO series Mare of Easttown, where he'll play a detective. This role will be quite different from that venture, but nonetheless, it will be interesting to see him take on this terrifying character.
The cast will also include Emmy winner Richard Jenkins (The Shape of Water), who will play Jeffrey's father, Lionel, a research chemist who taught Jeffrey how to bleach animal bones. Penelope Ann Miller (The Artist) will take on the role of Joyce, Jeffrey's mother. Niecy Nash (Reno 911!) will play the Dahmers' neighbor, Glenda Cleveland. Shaun J. Brown (Run) will play Tracy Edwards, Dahmer's last intended victim who managed to escape. Finally, Colin Ford (Daybreak) has the role of a character named Chazz.
Has a release date been announced?
According to What's On Netflix, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is currently in pre-production and is set to enter full production on March 23, 2021. With that said, Ryan Murphy is currently working on season 10 of American Horror Story, and has been teasing the plot and cast of that show on his personal Instagram page for a couple of weeks now. Murphy has also been busy with the third and final season of Pose, a musical series about the juxtaposition and segments of life and society in New York.
If production on Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story actually did start on or around March 23, Netflix could potentially drop Monster by Spring 2022. In the meantime, there are other true-crime docuseries and miniseries to explore, such as The Devil Next Door, The Pharmacist, World's Most Wanted, Murder Among The Mormons and much, much more.