Show creator Ryan Murphy teased the possibility of extending the Netflix original series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story after news of a new court hearing was announced. Monsters is an anthology series created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. The first season, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, also known as DAHMER, premiered in 2022 and chronicled the gruesome murders committed by Jeffrey Dahmer (Evan Peters) from 1978 to 1991.
The second installment of the series centers on the high-profile Beverly Hills murder case of the Menendez family. The riveting true-crime drama centers on the lives of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were convicted of murdering their parents in 1989. More than 35 years ago, both Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, new evidence in the case could determine whether the brothers should be serving life sentences.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said during a news conference that the Menendez brothers’ attorneys have asked a court to vacate their conviction. Murphy shared his interest in creating more episodes after Gascón’s announcement. The second season of Monsters currently has nine episodes. Murphy said the decision to continue the narrative series lies with the stars Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch, who played Lyle and Erik, respectively. Murphy told Variety,
“I think what I would be interested in doing, if Nicholas and Cooper would agree to do it, is maybe one or two episodes that continue the story.”
New Evidence, New Era, New Documentary
New evidence was presented in a petition to the court. It includes a letter written by Erik Menendez that his attorneys say can corroborate the allegations that his father sexually abused him. Gascón said that he believes that the possibility of sexual assault would have been considered with more sensitivity had the case been tried in the modern era. The original trials were a media frenzy. The case captivated the nation in the 1990s. Stories and photos about the brothers were sensationalized, and the case circulated around the world. Now, thanks to the Netflix drama, it’s gone viral again, this time on social media.
Gascón continued saying there was no question the brothers committed the murders, but that his office would be reviewing new evidence in order to make a decision on whether the evidence warrants a re-sentencing. The next hearing on the case is scheduled for November 29th, 2024. Cliff Gardner, an attorney for the brothers, commented on the district attorney’s decision in an email to The Associated Press saying,
“Given today’s very different understanding of how sexual and physical abuse impacts children — both boys and girls — and the remarkable new evidence, we think re-sentencing is the appropriate result. The brothers have served more than 30 years in prison. That is enough.”
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Netflix recently announced a new documentary, The Menendez Brothers, to premiere on October 7. For the first time in decades, Erik and Lyle Menendez will speak about the case in their own words. The documentary will likely address some of the online criticism the brothers and other viewers had of Monsters’s unfaithful depiction of events. The documentary promises new insights and fresh perspectives. It will feature new audio provided by the brothers and their families, lawyers, and journalists who covered the case at the time and in the decades since.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is the newest addition to Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s “Monster” anthology series, chronicling the case of the real-life brothers convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez. While the prosecution argued they were seeking to inherit their family fortune, the brothers claimed – and remain adamant to this day, as they serve life sentences without the possibility of parole – that their actions stemmed out of fear from a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
- Release Date
- September 18, 2024
- Cast
- Cooper Koch , Nicholas Alexander Chavez , Javier Bardem , Chloe Sevigny , Nathan Lane , Ari Graynor , Marlene Forte , Blanca Araceli , Dallas Roberts , leslie grossman , Charlie Hall , Nathen Gurrola