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{{Short description|Upcoming American true crime drama television miniseries}}
{{Short description|Cancelled season of television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2032}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2033}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2033}}
{{Infobox television season
{{Infobox television season
| show_name   = Monster
| bg_colour   = #2b2b2b
| season      = 5
| season_name  = ''Monster: The Hollywood Ripper''
| image        =  
| image        =  
| caption      =  
| caption      = Promotional artwork
| country      = United States
| showrunner  = {{Plainlist|
| num_episodes =  
* Jane Holloway
| network      = HBO
}}
| starring    = {{Plainlist|
* Sebastian Stan
* Jessica Chastain
* Diego Luna
* Florence Pugh
* Sterling K. Brown
* Connie Britton
* Lucas Hedges
}}
| num_episodes = 7 (unreleased)
| network      = [[HBO]]
| first_aired  =  
| first_aired  =  
| last_aired  =  
| last_aired  =  
| prev_season  = [[Monster: The Milwaukee Murders]]
| prev_season  = ''[[Monster: The Milwaukee Murders]]''
| next_season  =  
| next_season  = ''TBA''
}}
}}


'''''Monster: The Zodiac Killer''''' is an upcoming American crime drama television miniseries created by Jane Holloway for [[HBO]]. It is the fifth season of the ''Monster'' anthology, following ''[[Monster: The John Wayne Gacy Story]]'' (2026), ''[[Monster: The Bernie Madoff Story]]'' (2027), ''[[Monster: The Son of Sam Story]]'' (2029), and ''[[Monster: The Milwaukee Murders]]'' (2031).
'''''Monster: The Hollywood Ripper''''' was the planned fifth season of the American [[biographical fiction|biographical]] [[crime drama]] [[anthology series]] ''[[Monster (American TV series)|Monster]]'', created by Jane Holloway for [[HBO]]. The season was intended to dramatize the crimes of Michael Gargiulo, dubbed the “Hollywood Ripper,” with Sebastian Stan starring in the lead role. 
 
Despite completing production with a reported budget exceeding $200 million, HBO cancelled the season on July 2, 2033, just months before its scheduled premiere.<ref name="DeadlineCancel">{{cite web |title=Monster: The Hollywood Ripper Cancelled at HBO |url=https://deadline.com/2033/07/monster-hollywood-ripper-cancelled |website=Deadline |date=July 2, 2033 |access-date=July 2, 2033}}</ref> The completed episodes will not be released, marking the most expensive cancellation in the anthology’s history.


== Premise ==
== Synopsis ==
The season will dramatize the crimes of the unidentified Zodiac Killer, whose cryptic ciphers, taunting letters, and unsolved murders terrorized California during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The narrative is expected to explore the mystery, paranoia, and cultural obsession surrounding the case, while emphasizing the enduring impact of an unresolved identity.   
The season was to dramatize Michael Gargiulo’s attacks in Los Angeles and Chicago, the police investigation, and the media frenzy surrounding his trial. According to HBO’s promotional materials, the story would have emphasized survivor testimony, victims’ families, and systemic failures rather than centering Gargiulo himself.<ref name="DeadlineFeb2033">{{cite web |title=Everything Confirmed for Monster: The Hollywood Ripper — Plus New Episode Details |url=https://deadline.com/2033/02/monster-the-hollywood-ripper-release-cast-episodes |website=Deadline |date=February 18, 2033 |access-date=February 18, 2033}}</ref>
 
== Cast and characters ==
* [[Sebastian Stan]] as Michael Gargiulo, the “Hollywood Ripper”<ref name="DeadlineFeb2033" />
* [[Jessica Chastain]] as Lisa Turner, a fictionalized attorney representing victims’ families<ref name="DeadlineFeb2033" />
* [[Diego Luna]] as Detective Raul Ramirez, a lead investigator connecting Gargiulo’s crimes<ref name="DeadlineFeb2033" />
* [[Florence Pugh]] as Ashley Ellison, a composite survivor character<ref name="DeadlineFeb2033" />
* [[Sterling K. Brown]] as District Attorney Samuel Price, overseeing the trial<ref name="DeadlineFeb2033" />
* [[Connie Britton]] as Gloria Fenton, a neighbor whose testimony became pivotal<ref name="DeadlineFeb2033" />
* [[Lucas Hedges]] as Tommy Keller, a journalist covering the Hollywood connections<ref name="DeadlineFeb2033" />
 
== Episodes ==
The season was planned to consist of seven episodes, each running 65–90 minutes, but none were released. 
<onlyinclude>{{Episode table |background=#2b2b2b |overall=5 |season=5 |title=25 |director=12 |writer=38 |airdate=15 |episodes=
{{Episode list/sublist|Monster: The Hollywood Ripper
|EpisodeNumber  = 28
|EpisodeNumber2  = 1
|Title          =
|DirectedBy      =
|WrittenBy      =
|OriginalAirDate =
|ShortSummary    = Introduced Michael Gargiulo’s double life in suburban Los Angeles.
|LineColor      = 2b2b2b
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Monster: The Hollywood Ripper
|EpisodeNumber  = 29
|EpisodeNumber2  = 2
|Title          =
|DirectedBy      =
|WrittenBy      =
|OriginalAirDate =
|ShortSummary    = Focused on the first known attacks and ignored red flags.
|LineColor      = 2b2b2b
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Monster: The Hollywood Ripper
|EpisodeNumber  = 30
|EpisodeNumber2  = 3
|Title          =
|DirectedBy      =
|WrittenBy      =
|OriginalAirDate =
|ShortSummary    = Highlighted the growing investigation across states.
|LineColor      = 2b2b2b
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Monster: The Hollywood Ripper
|EpisodeNumber  = 31
|EpisodeNumber2  = 4
|Title          =
|DirectedBy      =
|WrittenBy      =
|OriginalAirDate =
|ShortSummary    = Depicted trial preparation and mounting media frenzy.
|LineColor      = 2b2b2b
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Monster: The Hollywood Ripper
|EpisodeNumber  = 32
|EpisodeNumber2  = 5
|Title          =
|DirectedBy      =
|WrittenBy      =
|OriginalAirDate =
|ShortSummary    = Centered on survivor testimony that reshaped the narrative.
|LineColor      = 2b2b2b
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Monster: The Hollywood Ripper
|EpisodeNumber  = 33
|EpisodeNumber2  = 6
|Title          =
|DirectedBy      =
|WrittenBy      =
|OriginalAirDate =
|ShortSummary    = Reconstructed the high-profile trial with cinematic scale.
|LineColor      = 2b2b2b
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Monster: The Hollywood Ripper
|EpisodeNumber  = 34
|EpisodeNumber2  = 7
|Title          =
|DirectedBy      =
|WrittenBy      =
|OriginalAirDate =
|ShortSummary    = Covered sentencing, aftermath, and cultural impact.
  |LineColor      = 2b2b2b
}}
}}</onlyinclude>


== Production ==
== Production ==
On February 2, 2032, HBO announced that ''Monster'' would return for a fifth season titled ''The Zodiac Killer''.<ref name="Season5Confirm">{{cite web |title=HBO Confirms Monster Season 5 – New Title Revealed |url=https://variety.com/2032/02/monster-season-5-zodiac-killer-confirmed/ |website=Variety |date=February 2, 2032 |access-date=February 2, 2032}}</ref>   
=== Development ===
On February 2, 2032, HBO initially announced that the fifth season would be titled ''The Zodiac Killer''.<ref>{{cite web |title=HBO Confirms Monster Season 5 – New Title Revealed |url=https://deadline.com/2032/02/hbo-monster-season-5-zodiac-killer |website=Deadline |date=February 2, 2032 |access-date=February 2, 2032}}</ref> In August 2032, episode titles and a release schedule for the Zodiac version were revealed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Monster: The Zodiac Killer Episode Titles and Release Schedule Announced |url=https://indiewire.com/2032/08/monster-zodiac-episode-titles-schedule |website=IndieWire |date=August 28, 2032 |access-date=August 28, 2032}}</ref>   
 
On November 12, 2032, HBO scrapped the Zodiac concept, retooling the season into ''The Hollywood Ripper'' following creative disputes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Monster Season 5 Delayed, Renamed, and Based on a Different Story — Budget Soars Over $200 Million |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/2032/11/monster-season-5-delayed-renamed-hollywood-ripper |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 12, 2032 |access-date=November 12, 2032}}</ref>
 
=== Budget ===
The season’s budget reportedly exceeded $200 million, making it the most expensive installment in the anthology. Costs were attributed to extensive rewrites, prolonged delays, high-profile cast salaries, and large-scale courtroom and Hollywood set reconstructions.<ref name="DeadlineFeb2033" />


In March 2032, showrunner Jane Holloway discussed the creative direction for Season 5, explaining that it would blend the roots of Season 1 with the broader lens of Season 2.<ref name="HollowayInterview">{{cite web |title=Interview with Jane Holloway: Monster: The Zodiac Killer Will Blend the Roots of Season 1 with the Broader Lens of Season 2 |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/2032/03/monster-season-5-holloway-interview/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=March 21, 2032 |access-date=March 21, 2032}}</ref>
=== Filming ===
Filming began in 2032 and wrapped in early 2033 across Los Angeles and Chicago locations. Scripts and rough cuts were reportedly kept under strict secrecy.<ref name="DeadlineFeb2033" />


Holloway confirmed that the season would mirror the structure of ''The John Wayne Gacy Story'' by focusing heavily on the atmosphere of random fear and the psychological toll on victims and investigators. She described the Zodiac as “a figure who looms over every frame, whether present or not,” emphasizing the season’s return to intimate, tension-driven storytelling.   
== Cancellation ==
On July 2, 2033, HBO announced that it had cancelled ''Monster: The Hollywood Ripper'', shelving the completed season and confirming that it would not be released in any form.<ref name="DeadlineCancel" /> Executives cited creative clashes, ballooning costs, and concerns that the subject matter no longer aligned with the direction of the anthology.   


At the same time, Holloway noted that the season would widen its scope in a way reminiscent of ''The Bernie Madoff Story'', portraying not only the crimes but also the ripple effects on media, culture, and public consciousness. “The Zodiac isn’t just a mystery — it’s a cultural obsession,” she said. “Like with Madoff, this season isn’t just about the crimes themselves, but about the world that enabled and consumed them.” 
The cast, including Sebastian Stan, Jessica Chastain, Florence Pugh, and Sterling K. Brown, had completed filming and were reportedly blindsided by the cancellation. Showrunner Jane Holloway attempted to salvage the project but was overruled by HBO executives. Rumors suggest that scripts and rough cuts may leak in the future, though the network has denied any release plans.<ref name="DeadlineCancel" />


The showrunner also addressed the unresolved nature of the case, stressing that the production would not attempt to invent answers. Instead, each episode would frame the investigation through multiple lenses, including the killer’s ciphers and letters, law enforcement frustration, and the paranoia of a public gripped by fear. While HBO has not officially confirmed the episode count, Holloway indicated the season is expected to run for eight episodes, each examining a different dimension of the case such as a murder, a cipher, or a media flashpoint.
== Future ==
Despite the cancellation, HBO confirmed that the ''Monster'' anthology will continue. A reimagined Season 5 with a different case is in early development, though no title or subject has been announced.<ref name="DeadlineCancel" />


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
{{Monster (American TV series)}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0000007|title=Monster: The Zodiac Killer}}


[[Category:Upcoming television series]]
[[Category:2030s American television seasons]]
[[Category:Cancelled television seasons]]
[[Category:HBO original programming]]
[[Category:HBO original programming]]
[[Category:American crime drama television series]]
[[Category:American crime drama television series]]
[[Category:American biographical series]]
[[Category:American biographical series]]
[[Category:Television series about serial killers]]
[[Category:Television series about serial killers]]
[[Category:2030s American television miniseries]]
[[Category:Monster (American TV series)]]

Latest revision as of 16:52, 21 September 2025

Monster: The Hollywood Ripper
Showrunner
  • Jane Holloway
Starring
  • Sebastian Stan
  • Jessica Chastain
  • Diego Luna
  • Florence Pugh
  • Sterling K. Brown
  • Connie Britton
  • Lucas Hedges
No. of episodes7 (unreleased)
Release
Original networkHBO
Season chronology
Next →
TBA

Monster: The Hollywood Ripper was the planned fifth season of the American biographical crime drama anthology series Monster, created by Jane Holloway for HBO. The season was intended to dramatize the crimes of Michael Gargiulo, dubbed the “Hollywood Ripper,” with Sebastian Stan starring in the lead role.

Despite completing production with a reported budget exceeding $200 million, HBO cancelled the season on July 2, 2033, just months before its scheduled premiere.[1] The completed episodes will not be released, marking the most expensive cancellation in the anthology’s history.

Synopsis[edit | edit source]

The season was to dramatize Michael Gargiulo’s attacks in Los Angeles and Chicago, the police investigation, and the media frenzy surrounding his trial. According to HBO’s promotional materials, the story would have emphasized survivor testimony, victims’ families, and systemic failures rather than centering Gargiulo himself.[2]

Cast and characters[edit | edit source]

Episodes[edit | edit source]

The season was planned to consist of seven episodes, each running 65–90 minutes, but none were released.

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
281TBATBATBATBA
Introduced Michael Gargiulo’s double life in suburban Los Angeles.
292TBATBATBATBA
Focused on the first known attacks and ignored red flags.
303TBATBATBATBA
Highlighted the growing investigation across states.
314TBATBATBATBA
Depicted trial preparation and mounting media frenzy.
325TBATBATBATBA
Centered on survivor testimony that reshaped the narrative.
336TBATBATBATBA
Reconstructed the high-profile trial with cinematic scale.
347TBATBATBATBA
Covered sentencing, aftermath, and cultural impact.

Production[edit | edit source]

Development[edit | edit source]

On February 2, 2032, HBO initially announced that the fifth season would be titled The Zodiac Killer.[3] In August 2032, episode titles and a release schedule for the Zodiac version were revealed.[4]

On November 12, 2032, HBO scrapped the Zodiac concept, retooling the season into The Hollywood Ripper following creative disputes.[5]

Budget[edit | edit source]

The season’s budget reportedly exceeded $200 million, making it the most expensive installment in the anthology. Costs were attributed to extensive rewrites, prolonged delays, high-profile cast salaries, and large-scale courtroom and Hollywood set reconstructions.[2]

Filming[edit | edit source]

Filming began in 2032 and wrapped in early 2033 across Los Angeles and Chicago locations. Scripts and rough cuts were reportedly kept under strict secrecy.[2]

Cancellation[edit | edit source]

On July 2, 2033, HBO announced that it had cancelled Monster: The Hollywood Ripper, shelving the completed season and confirming that it would not be released in any form.[1] Executives cited creative clashes, ballooning costs, and concerns that the subject matter no longer aligned with the direction of the anthology.

The cast, including Sebastian Stan, Jessica Chastain, Florence Pugh, and Sterling K. Brown, had completed filming and were reportedly blindsided by the cancellation. Showrunner Jane Holloway attempted to salvage the project but was overruled by HBO executives. Rumors suggest that scripts and rough cuts may leak in the future, though the network has denied any release plans.[1]

Future[edit | edit source]

Despite the cancellation, HBO confirmed that the Monster anthology will continue. A reimagined Season 5 with a different case is in early development, though no title or subject has been announced.[1]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Monster: The Hollywood Ripper Cancelled at HBO". Deadline. July 2, 2033. Retrieved July 2, 2033. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 "Everything Confirmed for Monster: The Hollywood Ripper — Plus New Episode Details". Deadline. February 18, 2033. Retrieved February 18, 2033. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help)
  3. ↑ "HBO Confirms Monster Season 5 – New Title Revealed". Deadline. February 2, 2032. Retrieved February 2, 2032. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help)
  4. ↑ "Monster: The Zodiac Killer Episode Titles and Release Schedule Announced". IndieWire. August 28, 2032. Retrieved August 28, 2032. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help)
  5. ↑ "Monster Season 5 Delayed, Renamed, and Based on a Different Story — Budget Soars Over $200 Million". The Hollywood Reporter. November 12, 2032. Retrieved November 12, 2032. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help)
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