Is Charlie Hunnam in ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’? Here’s His Chilling New Role

Fans searching for Charlie Hunnam’s latest project finally have their answer, and it involves an axe, a wealthy New England household, and one of America’s most notorious unsolved crimes. The actor has officially joined Ryan Murphy’s true crime universe once again, this time trading Wisconsin farmland for 1892 Massachusetts.

Yes, Charlie Hunnam is in the ‘Lizzie Borden Story’, and his role puts him right at the center of the tragedy rather than on the sidelines of it. Here is everything confirmed so far about his casting, his character, and how this performance compares to his last turn in the franchise.

Charlie Hunnam’s Role Explained

Charlie Hunnam stars as Andrew Borden in Netflix’s ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story,’ which released on September 17, 2026. He joins a cast that includes Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden, Billie Lourd as Emma Borden, and Sarah Paulson in another role within the anthology. The series marks the fourth installment of the anthology created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan.

Hunnam plays Andrew Borden opposite Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden, with Ella Beatty starring as Lizzie herself, the woman accused of wielding the infamous axe. Netflix released first look photos ahead of the premiere showing Hunnam and Hall in character as the ill fated parents.

This is not Hunnam’s first outing in the ‘Monster‘ franchise. He previously headlined ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’ as the titular killer, and this new season sees him shift from lead monster to victim, a notable change in framing for the actor.

‘Lizzie Borden Story’ Cast and Characters

Ella Beatty takes on the role of Lizzie Borden as the anthology’s first female lead, playing the accused ax murderer who was tried and acquitted for the gruesome 1892 hatchet murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts. Vicky Krieps plays Bridget Sullivan, the Irish live in maid the family called Maggie, who became a key witness at the trial.

Hunnam’s character, Andrew Borden, was one of the two people killed in the family’s Fall River home in August 1892, with Hall’s Abby Borden as the second victim. Hunnam’s version of Andrew is portrayed as a very abusive and manipulative parental figure within the household.

The season’s official synopsis describes a repressed daughter of a wealthy New England family and her rebellious maid trapped in a house built on humiliation and cruelty, escaping into a fantasy of sex, power and revenge. That framing places Hunnam’s Andrew Borden as the source of the household’s oppressive atmosphere rather than a sympathetic figure.

This is far from the first screen adaptation of the case, following earlier retellings like the 1975 TV movie ‘The Legend of Lizzie Borden,’ Lifetime’s 2014 ‘Lizzie Borden Took an Ax,’ and the 2018 film ‘Lizzie’ starring Chloe Sevigny. What sets Murphy’s version apart is the deeper focus on the relationship dynamics inside the Borden home itself.

Charlie Hunnam Compares Ed Gein and Lizzie Borden

Hunnam has been candid about how differently he views his two ‘Monster’ characters. He described Ed Gein as a deeply disturbed figure who engaged in a prolonged period of genuinely devious depravity, calling those actions truly heinous.

By contrast, Hunnam suggested that if Lizzie Borden was indeed responsible for the killings, which was never proven and for which she was exonerated in court, it would have been a far more understandable crime of passion. He pointed to the family living in an oppressive household under a father who was cold and inaccessible, paired with a stepmother who resented her.

Hunnam concluded that jealousy and resentment inside the Borden home culminated in a crime of passion where a seemingly gentle young woman ultimately snapped and brutally killed both of her parents. It’s a striking bit of empathy for a man playing the actual murder victim.

The series also leans into speculation that Lizzie was involved in a relationship with Bridget Sullivan, adding a layer to Lizzie’s story that previous adaptations have not explored as deeply. Hunnam’s Andrew is positioned as the household’s central oppressive force against that backdrop.

The ‘Monster’ Franchise Timeline and Release

The ‘Monster’ anthology began with ‘The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’ in September 2022, followed by ‘The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ in September 2024, ‘The Ed Gein Story’ in October 2025, and now ‘The Lizzie Borden Story’ in September 2026. Each season has tackled a different notorious figure from American criminal history under Murphy’s anthology format.

Netflix confirmed the new season launched on the streamer on September 17. The cast and creative team celebrated the release with a red carpet premiere in New York.

Ella Beatty, Vicky Krieps, Charlie Hunnam, Billie Lourd, Jessica Barden, Joey Pollari and Oliver Spenceman all walked the carpet at the Paris Theatre for the series premiere, alongside franchise creator Ryan Murphy, showrunner Ian Brennan, and director Max Winkler. The gathering underscored how much continuity the franchise has built across its four seasons.

Between his sympathetic read on Lizzie’s alleged motive and his own turn as her doomed father, Hunnam has made this season feel personal in a way his prior ‘Monster’ arc didn’t quite manage. What do you make of Charlie Hunnam trading places from killer to victim within the same true crime universe, and does his take on Andrew Borden’s household change how you see Lizzie’s story.