Netflix is turning one of America’s most notorious historical crimes into a psychologically charged television event, and two acclaimed performers are helping give the story its unusual depth. Rebecca Hall and Sarah Paulson take dramatically different paths into the world of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, the fourth installment of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s anthology series.
The series premieres September 17, 2026, with Ella Beatty portraying Lizzie Borden. Hall plays Lizzie’s stepmother, Abby Borden, while Paulson appears as infamous serial killer Aileen Wuornos in a storyline that expands the show’s examination of female violence and its cultural legacy.
Rebecca Hall Enters the Borden Family
Hall plays Abby Borden, Lizzie’s stepmother and one of the central figures in the household where the story unfolds. Her character exists within the oppressive Victorian-era family environment that Netflix presents as a crucial force in Lizzie’s transformation.
The role gives Hall an opportunity to work within a period setting filled with psychological tension rather than relying on conventional thriller mechanics. The relationship between Lizzie, Abby and the other members of the Borden household becomes part of the emotional architecture surrounding the infamous murders.
Netflix’s official synopsis describes Lizzie as a repressed daughter trapped in a wealthy New England family and emphasizes humiliation, cruelty, power and revenge as major elements of the story.
Sarah Paulson’s Surprising Connection to Lizzie Borden
Paulson’s role is even more unexpected. She portrays Aileen Wuornos, the Florida serial killer whose story became internationally known through her crimes, trial and subsequent media portrayals.
Wuornos was not directly involved in the 1892 Borden case. Instead, the series uses her story to explore the idea of a legacy of female rage and violence. Netflix describes Wuornos as playing a major role in scenes set decades after the Borden events, with her character connected thematically to Lizzie’s legacy.
That structure allows Monster to move beyond a straightforward historical recreation. Instead, the series asks broader questions about how society interprets women who commit violence and how one notorious figure can influence the cultural understanding of another.
A Reunion Between Sarah Paulson and Ryan Murphy
Paulson’s casting also continues one of television’s most recognizable creative partnerships. The Emmy-winning actress has previously collaborated with Murphy on projects including American Horror Story, American Crime Story and Ratched.
Her return to Murphy’s universe makes her appearance in Monster particularly significant. Rather than simply repeating an earlier performance style, the new role gives Paulson another opportunity to explore a controversial real-life woman through Murphy’s heightened dramatic lens.
Why the Two Performances Matter
Hall and Paulson represent two different sides of the show’s storytelling strategy. Hall is embedded directly inside the historical Borden household, while Paulson’s Wuornos connects the 1892 story to a later chapter of American true-crime history.
That contrast helps Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story operate on two levels. It is a period crime drama about a famous murder case, but it is also an examination of how stories about female violence are constructed, remembered and transformed over time.
The Darkest Chapter Yet?
The Monster anthology has previously focused on Jeffrey Dahmer, the Menendez brothers and Ed Gein. The Lizzie Borden installment is notable because it is the first season in the franchise centered on a female killer.
That change gives the new season a different dramatic perspective. Instead of concentrating exclusively on the mechanics of a notorious crime, the series appears interested in the psychological and cultural forces surrounding its central woman.
Why September Audiences Are Watching
With Beatty leading the series as Lizzie Borden, Charlie Hunnam playing Andrew Borden, Hall portraying Abby and Paulson taking on Wuornos, Netflix has assembled an unusually prominent ensemble for the latest chapter of Monster.
The official trailer has already highlighted the show’s grim period atmosphere and the escalating conflict inside the Borden household.
Whether viewers embrace the series’ interpretation or debate its dramatic liberties, the combination of historical crime, prestige performances and Ryan Murphy’s distinctive storytelling makes Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story one of September 2026’s most closely watched streaming dramas.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story premieres September 17, 2026, on Netflix.
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