Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story Teaser Brings Ryan Murphy’s True Crime Series Back With a Vengeance

Netflix just unleashed the first official teaser trailer for Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, and whew, Ryan Murphy is officially back to making sure none of us sleep soundly this autumn. The streamer’s hyper-popular, true-crime anthology series is moving its lenses back to the 19th century, and this first look promises the kind of bloody, stylized melodrama that has practically become a trademark. Dropping all eight episodes at once on Thursday, September 17, 2026, the new season shifts its focus away from modern serial killers to look at America's original, axe-wielding, nursery-rhyme-inspiring historical figure.

The 56-second clip acts as a mood piece that wastes absolutely no time getting to the gore, using a deeply unsettling recitation of the classic children's rhyme to score a sequence of quick, flashing images. By the time the video cuts to a stunned, blood-drenched Lizzie Borden standing in the aftermath, the vibe for the season is firmly established. It is atmospheric, unapologetically stylized, and clear about its intent to explore exactly what caused an elite New England household to turn into a crime scene.

A New Chapter in Historical Horror

The Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story teaser introduces Ella Beatty as the titular Lizzie, marking the first time a female lead has taken center stage in the franchise's history. The footage drops subtle hints regarding the real-life 1892 Massachusetts double-homicide case, including a very brief glimpse of slaughtered pigeons—a historical nod to the escalating tension between Lizzie and her strict father.

What makes this chapter particularly interesting is the official logline provided by Netflix, which paints the tragedy as a tale of absolute repression, isolation, and eventual female rage. The series intends to position Lizzie and the family’s live-in maid, Bridget Sullivan, as two young women trapped under a cruel household regime who escape into a dark, shared fantasy of power and revenge. There is a very strong implication that the show will lean into long-running historical theories about a secret romantic or codependent bond between the two women being the primary catalyst for the murders.

The Heavy Hitters in the Cast

While Ella Beatty is carrying the heavy lifting as the axe-wielding daughter, the surrounding cast list reads like a dream lineup for premium television enthusiasts. Charlie Hunnam is returning to the franchise after his time playing Ed Gein in season three, though this time he occupies a drastically different position. Instead of playing the monster, Hunnam is playing the ultimate victim: Lizzie’s wealthy, doomed father, Andrew Borden.

The rest of the family and household are populated by an incredibly strong ensemble: Rebecca Hall plays the stepmother, Abby Borden, looking suitably stern and trapped in the oppressive environment. Vicky Krieps steps into the role of Bridget Sullivan, the rebellious maid at the center of the narrative. Billie Lourd, a perennial favorite from the Ryan Murphy cinematic universe, plays Lizzie's older sister, Emma. Jessica Barden rounds out the main crew as Nance O'Neil, an actor friend who historically comforted Lizzie after the murders.

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story. (L to R) Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden in episode 401 of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026

Behind the camera, directing duties are split between Max Winkler and Sarah Adina Smith, ensuring the visual language keeps that distinctive, cinematic look Netflix audiences expect from the brand.

If you were worried the anthology might run out of steam, this teaser puts those doubts to rest. It avoids the massive trap of showing the actual mechanics of the trial or giving away every narrative liberty the writers are taking, opting instead to sell pure, unfiltered dread. The period costuming looks impeccable, the framing is intensely claustrophobic, and the final image of Beatty caked in blood will stick with you long after the screen goes black.

True crime fans love a story that digs into the psychology behind an infamous headline, and by framing Lizzie’s actions through a lens of psychological warfare and ultimate rebellion, Netflix might have another massive hit on its hands. Mark your calendars for September 17, because the fall TV season is starting with a sharp edge.