Fans of the Netflix show Monster on social media have been left shocked by new pictures showing Charlie Hunnam’s transformation into the serial killer Ed Gein.
The upcoming Ryan Murphy series has already produced seasons focused on Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez Brothers and will now be returning to Netflix with a third season about Gein, the Butcher of Plainfield.
The show’s second season was deeply influential, spawning a re-examination of the case of the Menendez Brothers that may have partially led to their resentencing and recent parole hearings. Their parole application was ultimately denied, however.
Murphy’s Netflix anthology’s third season will focus on Hunnam as Ed Gein, with the first pictures of Hunnam’s transformation into the role released yesterday on Netflix’s social media.
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Fans flocked to discuss Hunnam’s physical transformation into Gein, with a number voicing their fear at his new look.
One tweeted: “Holy f**k, it’s so scary how similar he looks to Ed.”
Another said: “Charlie Hunnam is unrecognizable!”
A third said: “Can't wait to disturb and terrify myself with this.”
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Others however took to social media with concerns about what the pictures may signify about the upcoming true crime season and how it will portray Gein.
Gein became infamous after admitting to two murders and admitting that he exhumed bodies to create a ‘house of horrors’ out of their body parts.
He is suspected to have killed even more than the two he admitted to.
Previous seasons of the show have seen criticisms from fans who feel it ‘glorifies’ murderers and disturbs the families of victims.
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One fan took to a Reddit discussion of the new photos to say: “And the award for most generous casting of all time goes to…”
Another on Instagram said: “Yeah this seems kinda glorified,” whilst a second fan concurred to say: “He’s all ripped. Did anyone on this [show] look at a picture of Ed Gein??”
Another on X questioned how necessary more true crime glamorisations were, stating that they felt it was ‘like Netflix milking trauma into entertainment at this point.’
The sister of one of Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims hit out at Netflix for the first season of Monster, claiming they did not consult her and calling them ‘money hungry’.
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She said: “I was never contacted about the show. I feel like Netflix should've asked if we mind or how we felt about making it.
“They didn't ask me anything. They just did it.”
The three posters compare the serial killer to some of the most famous movie serial killers, many of whom are believed to have been inspired by Ed Gein’s horrific murders.
These include Silence of the Lambs, Psycho, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Monster season three releases on Netflix on 3 October.
Topics: Charlie Hunnam, Netflix, TV, TV and Film, True Crime, Ed Gein
Michael Slavin