Ryan Murphy’s (The Prom, American Horror Stories) next Netflix series has announced its main cast. According to a Deadline exclusive, frequent Murphy collaborator, Evan Peters (WandaVision, Pose), will star in the limited series, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Co-created by Murphy and Ian Brennan (The Politician, Glee), the series has also cast Niecy Nash (Uncorked, Claws), Penelope Ann Miller (Kindergarten Cop, Awakenings), Shaun J. Brown (Heart, Baby, Wilson), Richard Jenkins (Six Feet Under, The Shape of Water), and Colin Ford (We Bought A Zoo, Push).
According to Deadline, Monster will detail the horrific story of the Wisconsin serial killer and the years he was able to evade suspicion and arrest despite multiple reports to authorities. With Peters in the titular role, the 10-episode series will refrain from highlighting Dahmer’s gruesome acts to focus the narrative from the victims’ perspectives. Its main goal is to explore the psychology behind the various factors that enabled such a dangerous man to remain free from justice for decades. These factors include Dahmer’s privilege as a white male and clean-cut demeanor which found law enforcement and the justice system administer little to no punishment for his crimes early on.
Nash is listed as co-lead in the role of Dahmer’s neighbor, Glenda Cleveland, via Deadline. For years, Cleveland reported his peculiar behavior to police and even the FBI, but no serious consequences were attempted. Brown will play Dahmer’s final targeted victim, Tracy, who managed to escape. Tracy’s survival led to Dahmer’s eventual arrest. Miller and Jenkins will portray his parents Joyce and Lionel. Ford is set to play a character named Chazz.
According to Deadline, Murphy and Brennan will executive produce via Ryan Murphy Productions. They are joined by Alexis Martin Woodall (Pose, ACS: The Assassination of Gianni Versace), Eric Kovtun (Hollywood, Ratched), and Scott Robertson (Top Gun: Maverick, The Prom) who will co-produce. The pilot will be directed by executive producer Carl Franklin (One False Move, House of Cards) with several episodes written and directed by fellow EP, Janet Mock (Pose, Hollywood). The series will have two supervising producers in writer David McMillian (Now You See Me, Sleepy Hollow) and Color for Change’s Rashad Robinson (RaceForward, Hazen Foundation).
Deadline reports Dahmer terrorized the city of Milwaukee throughout the 1970s, 80s, and early 90s until his arrest. Known as the Milwaukee Cannibal/Monster, he subjected men and young boys to horrific acts which included necrophilia, cannibalism, and the preservation of body parts. Once arrested and tried, Dahmer was charged with the deaths of 17 victims, some being underage and many men of color. He was convicted for 16 of them and sentenced to prison in 1992. Two years later at the age of 34, a fellow inmate beat Dahmer to death.