Summary
- “Monster” season 2 will focus on the Menendez brothers’ murder case, offering a new chapter in American true crime history.
- Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez have been cast as Lyle and Erik Menendez in season 2 of “Monster.”
- The release of “Monster” season 2 is expected in 2024, following a similar release schedule as season 1.
After Evan Peter’s depiction of Jeffrey Dahmer captured the cultural zeitgeist in 2022, Ryan Murphy’s Monster returns with a second season entitled Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menedez Story. Monster season 1 chronicled the life and crimes of notorious American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, and through Ryan Murphy’s signature style, attempted to find the man behind the titular monster. Though plenty of media has covered the high-profile case, the Netflix series was the first to approach the story from a truly cinematic angle.
Although Netflix’s Monster has been mired in controversy, its immense popularity has led the streamer to carry it forward with a double renewal for seasons 2 and 3. The serial killer subject of season 1 was wrapped up by the final episode, and season 2 of Monster will focus on an entirely different chapter of American true crime history — the Menedez brothers’ murder case. Continuing to capture the imaginations of true crime fans around all the world, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez story can capture the nuance without all of season 1’s controversy.
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The Latest Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story News
Netflix Rounds Out The Cast
After Netflix announced the principal cast for the sophomore season in 2023, the latest news sees Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story round out its cast. As reported by Deadline, the entire lead and supporting cast of the true crime series’ second season is now known, including Dallas Roberts as Dr. Jerome Oziel, Erik’s psychiatrist who is not quite above board. He’s joined by Jason Butler Harner as Det. Les Zoeller, the cop in charge of the murder investigation, and Enrique Murciano as the brothers’ uncle, Carlos Baralt.
The full scope of the new additions includes:
- Dallas Roberts as Dr. Jermoe Oziel
- Jason Butler Harner as Det. Les Zoeller
- Enrique Murcino as Carlos Baralt
- Michael Gladis as Tim Rutten
- Drew Powell as Det. Tom Linehan
- Charlie Hall as Craig Cignarelli
- Gil Ozeri as Dr. William Vicary
- Jeff Perry as Peter Hoffman
- Tessa Auberjonois as Dr. Laruel Oziel
- Tanner Stine as Perry Berman
- Larry Clarke as Brian Andersen
- Jade Pettyjohn as Jamie Pisarcik
- Marlene Forte as Marta Cano
Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story Production Status
Netflix Promised The Season In 2024
The Monster season 2 teaser released by Netflix reveals that the Lyle and Erik Menendez story should hit the screens sometime in 2024. Monster season 1 was released on September 21st, 2022, and it’s likely that season 2 could follow this same release schedule, with Ryan Murphy’s other shows like American Horror Story favoring fall releases nearing Halloween.
It is unclear how the WGA and SAG/AFTRA strikes affected
Monster
season 2.
Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story
A Star-Studded Cast For The True Crime Series’ Sophomore Season
The Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story cast began to take shape with Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez cast to play Erik and Lyle Menendez, respectively. Adding to the star power of the upcoming season, Javier Bardem has been cast as Lyle and Erik’s father and eventual victim, José Menendez, and Chloë Sevigny also joins the cast as his wife Kitty.
The rest of the ensemble was revealed in February 2024 with the announcement of a notable real-life figure, Dr. Jermoe Oziel, being played by Dallas Roberts. Dr. Oziel was Erik’s psychiatrist in the aftermath of the murders and was surrounded in controversy due to his involvement in the case. Joining Roberts is Jason Butler Harner as Det. Les Zoeller, the seasoned Los Angeles cop who was in charge of the Menendez murder investigation.
The full cast of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story includes:
|
Actor |
Monsters Role |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Cooper Koch |
Erik Menendez |
 |
|
Nicholas Alexander Chavez |
Lyle Menendez |
 |
|
Javier Bardem |
Jose Menendez |
 |
|
Chloë Sevigny |
Kitty Menendez |
 |
|
Nathan Lane |
Dominick Dunne |
 |
|
Ari Graynor |
Leslie Abramson |
 |
|
Dallas Roberts |
Dr. Jerome Oziel |
 |
|
Leslie Grossman |
Judalon Smyth |
 |
|
Jason Butler Harner |
Detective Les Zoeller |
 |
|
Enrique Murciano |
Carlos Baralt |
 |
|
Michael Gladis |
Tim Rutten |
 |
|
Drew Powell |
Det. Tom Linehan |
 |
|
Charlie Hall |
Craig Cignarelli |
 |
|
Jeff Perry |
Peter Hoffman |
 |
Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story Plot Details
Erik and Lyle Menendez Murders Explained
The two trials of Lyle and Erik Menendez will assuredly be a focal point of
Monster
season 2, as they were widely publicized.
On August 20th, 1989, wealthy corporate executive José Menendez and his wife Kitty were murdered by their sons Erik and Lyle in the den of their Beverly Hills home. José was shot six times, while Kitty was shot ten. Lyle called the police, claiming that he and his brother were out and came home to find their parents murdered. Erik confessed the murder to his therapist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, and since the police were already building a case against Lyle and Erik Menendez, Lyle was arrested on March 8th, 1990 and Erik turned himself in three days later.
The two trials of Lyle and Erik Menendez will assuredly be a focal point of Monster season 2, as they were widely publicized. While the brothers hired Robert Shapiro first, defense attorney Leslie Abramson will be the main event. Her case hinged on the Menendez brothers’ allegations that they killed their parents due to life-long emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of their father José. The brothers claimed they threatened to out their parents, and out of fear that their parents would kill them first, they shot them.
The first trial of Lyle and Erik Menendez ended in a hung jury, due to their tearful testimonies of sexual abuse at the ages of 6 and 8, as well as compelling evidence regarding José’s character from defense witnesses. For whatever reason, Abramson wasn’t able to persuade the second jury it was a crime of self-defense. Therefore, Monster season 2 will see the second trial’s results being first-degree murder charges for the Menendez brothers, resulting in a conviction of life without parole for both brothers.
Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story Trailer
Watch The First Teaser Below
The Monster season 2 teaser released by Netflix doesn’t include any images. It does however, display the date and location of the crime before launching into Lyle Menendez’s real-life 911 call to the police. In the call, Lyle states that someone killed his parents and confirms that they were shot. When asked what happened, he states he didn’t hear anything, and he just came home.
When he hangs up with the 911 operator, the title Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story appears on the screen, along with the ominous 2024 release confirmation. While there isn’t yet a full trailer for Monster season 2, the teaser at least confirms that production on the series is in full swing.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is a true-crime drama series created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. The second installment in the “Monster” anthology series, Monsters retells the story of the Menendez brothers, who were convicted of murdering their parents in 1996 after two trials with peculiar circumstances.
- Cast
- Cooper Koch
- Seasons
- 1
