Charlie Hunnam Is Unrecognizable as Ed Gein in Monster Season 3 Set Photos (2025)

Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam is totally transformed in set images from the third season of Netflix'sMonster. It was previously revealed that Hunnam would be playing Ed Gein in the series, and new images from the set have revealed a first look at the actor looking unrecognizable in the role.

Per TMZ, images taken from the set provide the first look at Hunnam as Ed Gein, the real-life murderer who's also known as "The Plainfield Ghoul" and "The Butcher of Plainfield." The photos are starting to get some attention on social media with fans impressed by just how different Hunnam looks in the role. With a haircut and clothing that's more reminiscent of how Gein appeared in the 1950s prior to his arrest, Hunnam looks to be in his most transformative performance yet.

Each season of Monster has focused on different true crime stories. In the first season, Evan Peters played the titular serial killer in Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, while the second season, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, starred Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez as the brothers who were famously imprisoned for the murders of their parents. Series co-creator Ryan Murphy previously shared that he intends to title the third season as The Original Monster, as Ed Gein became notorious before the crimes of serial killers like Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Richard Ramirez, and others.

"Based on our research, the very first one who became a celebrity at that level was Ed, who was an instant crazy celebrity from the moment he was arrested," Murphy, who co-created the series with Ian Brennan, previously told Collider. "Nobody had ever heard of anything like that. Then we found out — he was motivated, obviously — but he was schizophrenic. How he became what he became was a very interesting story.”

Charlie Hunnam Is the "Most Lovely Person" in Reality

On putting Hunnam in the role, Murphy added, "He's just the most lovely person, and he liked what we were doing. He liked what it's about. Every generation gets the monster that they deserve, you know? So we're writing about a lot of things, but he's a wonderful guy.”

Gein is known to have killed at least two women, though it's been theorized that there may have been other victims. He was also known to have been a grave robber, frequently stealing body parts from cemeteries and using them to make various items for use in his home. This includes making a suit and face mask with human skin, which directly inspired the Leatherface character from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, among other horror movies. After Gein's arrest, he was found to be legally insane and lived the rest of his days in a psychiatric institute.

Netflix hasn't yet announced a premiere date for Monster Season 3.

Source: TMZ

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

TV-MA

Drama

Crime

Release Date

September 19, 2024

Creator(s)

Ryan Murphy , Ian Brennan

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

Main Genre

Crime

Seasons

1

Writers

Ryan Murphy , Ian Brennan

Where To Watch

Netflix

Character(s)

Erik Menendez , Lyle Menendez , José Menendez , Mary Louise Kitty Menendez , Dominick Dunne , Leslie Abramson , Marta Cano , Grandma Maria , Dr. Jerome Oziel , Judalon Smyth , Craig Cignarelli , Andy Cano