The cast of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is packed with well-known names.
Three-point summary:
- Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is the second instalment in the Monster anthology series.
- It follows the real-life story of two brothers who killed their parents in 1989 and became media sensations during their trial.
- The series, released on Thursday, 19 September 2024, is expected to delve deep into the motives and fallout from the shocking crime.
Who plays the Menendez brothers on Netflix? – Here’s the cast
Nicholas Chavez stars as Lyle Menendez, the eldest of the two brothers, while Cooper Koch plays Erik Menendez.
The two actors have expressed their empathy toward the roles they are portraying, with Koch telling Netflix:
“When you’re playing a part, you have to be on their side.”
Javier Bardem takes on the role of José Menendez, the father of Lyle and Erik, while Chloë Sevigny portrays Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, their mother.
Both Bardem and Sevigny are no strangers to complex characters, with Bardem noting:
“Ian Brennan’s writing made it obvious I wanted to be part of this project.”
Supporting the Menendez brothers’ story is Nathan Lane as investigative journalist Dominick Dunne, Ari Graynor as defence attorney Leslie Abramson, and Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth, whose testimony played a crucial role in the real-life trial. Lane said of his involvement:
“I feel very lucky to be part of this compelling series.”
What is the plot?
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story dives into the shocking events that unfolded on 20 August 1989, when the two brothers shot and killed their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion.
The brothers claimed years of abuse led them to commit the murders, but prosecutors argued that the real motive was to secure their inheritance.
The case gripped the nation, not only because of the gruesome nature of the crime but also because of the media frenzy surrounding the trial.
As the series unravels, viewers will witness the emotional rollercoaster of the Menendez brothers’ defence, the media circus that followed, and the court’s eventual verdict of first-degree murder, which led to their life sentences.
The show promises to explore both sides of the story, allowing audiences to form their own opinions about whether the brothers were truly victims or motivated by greed.
When will the Menendez brothers story release on Netflix?
Fans of true crime can tune in to Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story starting Thursday, 19 September 2024, on Netflix.
The series follows the success of DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, which set streaming records with its gripping portrayal of another notorious figure.
With its high-profile cast and intense real-life drama, Monsters promises to be one of the most talked-about releases of the year.