Netflix is one of the streaming platforms with an ear tapped into social discussions, taking the time to focus on the true crime genre as it grows in popularity with podcasts, films, and TV series dedicated to the true evils of the world. Monster, one of Netflix’s latest anthology series, focused on Jeffrey Dahmer for its first season, and with a second season on the horizon, we’ve learned who is slated to star as the focus of the story.
Earlier this year, the Hollywood Reporter shared that season two would focus on the tragedy that occurred within the Menendez family when brothers Lyle and Erik killed their parents, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez. Today, Deadline shared the news that two up-and-coming actors would be playing the roles of the brothers. Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez will play Erik and Lyle, respectively.
Dahmer: Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story didn’t get by without criticism from some, even within the true crime community, for things like “humanizing Dahmer” and painting the victims in a less-than-flattering light. While many already know the story behind the depraved acts of the Milwaukee-born serial killer, audiences saw this telling of his story as something unlike anything we’d seen before.
The upcoming season will once again have a controversial aspect to it, as the Menendez brothers draw in mixed feelings all on their own. Some see them as victims of abuse who don’t deserve to be sitting in jail, while others think they are selfish and spoiled, angry and taking it out on their parents.
The Menendez brothers have been in jail since 1996, but it was reported in May. by CNN that new evidence has been found by their attorneys that highlight the depravity of Jose Menendez:
“In short the new evidence not only shows that Jose Menendez was very much a violent and brutal man who would sexually abuse children, but it strongly suggests that – in fact – he was still abusing Erik Menendez as late as December 1988. Just as the defense had argued all along.”
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is set to premiere on Netflix in 2024.