Sarah Paulson will reunite with Ryan Murphy, this time in “Monster.”
Variety has learned from sources that Paulson is close to a deal to star in the upcoming fourth season of Murphy and Ian Brennan’s Netflix anthology series, playing notorious serial killer Aileen Wuornos. As previously reported, season 4 will focus on Lizzie Borden and the ax murders of her father and stepmother. Production is currently underway in Los Angeles.
Given that Wuornos is not the focus of the season, it stands to reason that just as Season 3 explored the impact of Ed Gein’s crimes on popular culture, Season 4 will examine Borden’s influence on perceptions of and relationships with other female murderers.
A representative for Netflix declined to comment.
Ella Beatty stars as Lizzie, while Charlie Hunnam, who just played Gein in Season 3 of Monsters, plays her father, Andrew Jackson Borden. Additionally, Rebecca Hall will play Lizzie’s stepmother Abby, and Billie Lourd will play Lizzie’s sister Emma Borden. Jessica Barden plays Lizzie’s friend Nance O’Neal, and Vicki Krieps plays Bridget Sullivan, the Borden family’s maid.
Wuornos was convicted of murdering seven men in Florida and ultimately executed in 2002. Since then, Wuornos has been the subject of numerous documentaries and books, and Charlize Theron won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Wuornos in the 2003 film Monster. Other actresses who have played Wuornos on screen include Peyton List, Jean Smart, and Lily Rabe. Raab played Wuornos in season 5 of “American Horror Story,” another Murphy production.
This represents Paulson and Murphy’s latest collaboration. Paulson famously appeared on almost every season of “American Horror Story” and was nominated for five Emmy Awards. Just last week, it was announced that Paulson would be returning to the franchise for the upcoming 13th season.
She also starred in both The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story and Impeachment: American Crime Story, both of which Murphy executive produced and directed. Paulson won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series for “The People vs. O.J.” Other collaborations include the Netflix series “Ratched,” the first season of “Feud” and Hulu’s legal drama “All’s Fair.”
Outside of the Murphy-Verse, Paulson is known for her roles in shows such as “Mrs. She is also an accomplished stage actress, and Paulson won the Tony and Drama Desk Award for Best Actress for her role in the play Appropriate.
She is repped by CAA, Entertainment 360, Hansen Jacobson, and Birch Public Relations.
