It has been 35 years since José and Kitty Menendez were murdered in their California home in 1989 by their sons, Lyle, then 21, and Erik, then 18. While the case has inspired various fictional adaptations, the latest is from Netflix, titled “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” set to premiere on September 19. This series follows the success of Netflix’s “Monster,” which gained acclaim for “The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” in 2022.
The series draws inspiration from Robert Rand’s book “The Menendez Murders,” featuring a cast of actors portraying the real-life figures involved.
Nicolas Alexander Chavez will portray Lyle Menendez, the elder brother born in 1968, who was suspended from Princeton at the time of the killings due to plagiarism allegations, which he denied. He had called the police on the night of the murders, stating, “Somebody killed my parents.” Both brothers were later charged with first-degree murder after their parents’ deaths.
Cooper Koch plays Erik Menendez, born in 1970, who was preparing to begin his studies at UCLA when the murders occurred. After the incident, he hired a tennis coach and competed in tournaments until his arrest.
Javier Bardem takes on the role of José Menendez, the father who emigrated from Cuba as a teenager and became a successful businessman before his death. His sons accused him of severe abuse, including sexual molestation, which they cited during the trials as their motive for the killings. Chloe Sevigny plays Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, the brothers’ mother, who was said to have ignored their pleas for help regarding their father’s abuse.
The cast also features Nathan Lane as Dominick Dunne, a writer who covered the Menendez trial, and Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson, the defense attorney who represented the brothers. Dallas Roberts plays Dr. Jerome Oziel, the psychiatrist who was informed of the killings by Erik Menendez, while Leslie Grossman portrays Judalon Smyth, Oziel’s former client who helped tip off the police about the brothers’ confessions. Jason Butler Harner plays detective Les Zoeller, who investigated the case.
This new series aims to explore the complex and dark history behind the infamous murders, as well as the subsequent trials that captivated public attention.