Charlie Hunnam Adopts Two Kittens After Visit

Charlie Hunnam will star as Ed Gein in the upcoming Netflix series “Monster: The Ed Gein Story,” a new installment in the anthology created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. The series focuses on the 1950s Wisconsin body snatcher and murderer whose crimes served as the inspiration for the films “Psycho,” “The Silence of the Lambs,” and “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” according to Netflix and Gold Derby.

The production marks the third season of the “Monster” series, following previous seasons centered on Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers. Co-creator Ian Brennan told Tudum that Gein’s descent into madness and killing in a rural farmhouse represents a “big ask” for a global audience, but noted the story’s enduring influence on cinema as the catalyst for the project.

According to Netflix, the season will not be limited to Gein’s life in Wisconsin. The narrative will also move to Hollywood to feature Alfred Hitchcock, played by Tom Hollander, as he develops the film “Psycho.”

Casting and Character Preparation

Ryan Murphy stated that he decided to cast Hunnam after seeing a paparazzi photograph of the actor that made him look “haunted.” Hunnam recounted to Gold Derby that he originally met with Murphy to discuss a project set in Rome, but the conversation shifted when Murphy revealed he had been writing about Gein for several days.

Hunnam told Gold Derby that he accepted the role because Murphy’s approach felt like a “sincere investigation of the human condition” rather than a celebration of the grotesque. To prepare, Hunnam read every available book on Gein, though he told Tudum that he found most of them to be “grossly sensationalist” and not particularly useful.

One of the most distinct aspects of Hunnam’s performance is a high, pinched vocal tone. Hunnam explained to Gold Derby that he developed this voice to reflect Gein’s rigid nature and his tortured relationship with his mother, who reportedly told him she hated him because he was not the daughter she wanted.

Hunnam admitted to Gold Derby that he discovered a long-lost interview tape of the real Ed Gein five days before filming began. While the actual voice on the tape differed from his created persona, he chose to stick with the version he had prepared for the character.

On-Set Dynamics and Disturbing Content

Laurie Metcalf joins the cast as Gein’s mother. Hunnam told Gold Derby that Metcalf would not accept the role until she had met him personally. The two finalized her casting after a two-hour phone call.

Hunnam described several scenes as “incredibly uncomfortable,” specifically those involving wearing a skin suit of female flesh or making love to a corpse. He noted to Gold Derby that he maintained a clear boundary during the production of these sequences, though he found the scenes involving women’s lingerie to be less bothersome.

Gein’s Influence on the Horror Genre

The series examines how Ed Gein shifted the perception of “monsters” in popular culture. Hunnam told Gold Derby that prior to “Psycho,” monsters were typically supernatural entities like Dracula or Frankenstein, but Gein’s case marked a pivot point where human beings became the monsters.

Murphy told Tudum that Gein is one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, claiming that he influenced other notorious serial killers, including Ted Bundy.

The season is scheduled to premiere in October, according to Netflix.