Is Netflix's new Charlie Hunnam casting going to make me drawn to a serial killer again?

Netflix is ​​at it again, casting Charlie Hunnam for Monster Season 3, which leads me to ask the question: Why do movies and TV shows keep casting perfectly good-looking actors to play serial killers? From the minds of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, Netflix Monster Show debuted in September 2022 by releasing a season that chronicled Jeffrey Dahmer. The show was led by Evan Peters in the role of Dahmer, reuniting him with Murphy after appearing in nine seasons of American Horror Story And the FX drama Pose. Despite a so-so reception, Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story was a mega hit for Netflix.

We will get to the issues around Monster Season 1 soon, but before the dust even settled on the Dahmer story, Netflix renewed Monster For season 2, which is set to follow the true story of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who murdered their parents in 1989. Monster Season 2 features another notable cast, but the story takes a different approach by following a deadly family case rather than a serial killer. That said, Monster Season 3 returned to the original approach by following one of the most notable killers in history, and the show cast Charlie Hunnam to play the "Monster."

Charlie Hunnam plays Ed Gein in Monster Season 3 for Netflix

The Mad Butcher will be the focus of the next installment of The Monster

Charlie Hunnam was cast as Ed Gein for Monster Season 3, with the announcement coming just a few days earlier Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Even premieres. Hunnam, of course, is no stranger to TV shows, having notably played the rugged handsome Jax Teller in Sons of Anarchy and the proudly promiscuous college student Lloyd in Undeclared. His movie roles are equally diverse, however I can't be the only one shocked to learn that Hunnam is set to play Ed GeinThe sadistic figure who inspired fictional killers like Norman Bates, Leatherface and Buffalo Bill. But here we are.

I certainly wouldn't call myself a serial killer expert, but as a horror enthusiast, I am aware of the most notable serial killers in history. This is especially true if they've impacted the entertainment industry, whether it's retelling or inspirations behind fictional characters. Ed Gein, aka the Butcher of Plainfield, is confirmed to have killed two women and suspected of killing at least seven others. To make the case more extreme, Gein was a well-known body-sniff who dug up buried bodies in cemeteries in order to destroy the bodies. and get grotesque memories.

Charlie Hunnam's serial killer casting continues an odd trend

Fan favorite actors continue to be cast as dangerous real-life figures

Depicting serial killers, real and fictional, is not new to the entertainment industry. yet, Ed Gein's casting of Charlie Hunnam is another odd example of a trend I can't ignore. Again, the horrific true story retelling is using an attractive (and, at times, beloved) actor to portray a serial killer. I'm not saying that the viewers will instantly fall in love with Ed Gein and other murderers in general because of Hunnam. Let's not go that far. But Hunnam has a loyal following, and I can't deny that I crush on him in any role I see him play. Will this happen again in Monster Season 3?

Let's take a look at Zac Efron, an actor who captured the hearts of young people in the mid-00s with his role in the High school musical Kino, who then went on to star in the Ted Bundy movie with the title Extremely bad, shockingly evil and vile. Bundy may be known for his charm in real life, however Using a massively popular actor and mature Disney superstar like Efron is certainly a Choice. The portrayal even caused fans to become fascinated with Bundy, as if he were a falsely accused celebrity, just like how women strangely treated him during his actual murder trial.

Even Evan Peters' Dahmer casting for Monster Steered controversy, repeating a character issue of American Horror Story Season 1 when he played Tate Langdon. Tate was a protective love interest in season 1, but that protective nature didn't work for me after it was revealed that Tate did a school shooting. however, Tate's continued image as an antagonist who deserves sympathy was unsettlingSomething that seems to continue with modern serial killer depictions in Monster And further.

The depiction of known serial killers in movies and shows will always be divisive

Romanticizing and glorifying serial killers has been a problem

While it is necessary to dive into the complexities of serial killers and their motives, shows and movies often lean into narratives that justify their actions or somehow place the blame on victims. Monster Season 1 spurred more controversy by prioritizing Dahmer's characterization over the stories of those killed, which led some of the victims' families to speak out against the show. Putting the lead character front and center makes sense, but doing so in the wrong light can risk romanticizing serial killers, clouding them with instant appeal.

I totally get wanting to hire a notable name for a project like that Monster. In fact, seeing Hunnam's name piqued my interest. In a perfect world, an actor's appearance shouldn't be that much of a deciding factor for casting, but it's not a perfect world. No matter who is cast to play known killers, Adaptations are responsible for not glorifying these figures by presenting them as forgiving. Interest in true crime will not slow down, and as long as they continue, the image of serial killers will continue to be divisive, especially if they are played by actors that many of us grew up supporting or, in some cases, Loving.

Serial killer depictions in movies and shows always come with inherent risks. There should be intrigue for viewers to want to watch, but there also needs to be a balance in how the events and characters are presented. Maybe Monster Season 3 will change Hunnam's appearance to avoid intensifying the romanticization of someone like Gein, taking a similar approach to 2003's. Monster Featuring Charlize Theron's depiction of serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Or maybe I'll fall into the trap and crush on Hunnam's serial killer character. Only time will tell.