Monster: The Hollywood Ripper
| Monster: The Hollywood Ripper | |
|---|---|
| Showrunner |
|
| Starring |
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| No. of episodes | 7 |
| Release | |
| Original network | HBO |
| Season chronology | |
Monster: The Hollywood Ripper is the upcoming fifth season of the American biographical crime drama anthology series Monster, created by Jane Holloway for HBO. It stars Sebastian Stan as convicted murderer Michael Gargiulo, dubbed the “Hollywood Ripper,” whose crimes in Los Angeles and Chicago drew national attention for their brutality and celebrity-adjacent connections. The season is scheduled to premiere on September 19, 2033, and will consist of seven episodes.[1]
Synopsis
The season will dramatize Michael Gargiulo’s crimes in Los Angeles and Chicago, the police investigation, and the high-profile trial that followed. It will focus on the voices of survivors, victims’ families, and the media spectacle that surrounded the case, while avoiding glorification of the killer.[1]
Cast and characters
- Sebastian Stan as Michael Gargiulo, the “Hollywood Ripper”[1]
- Jessica Chastain as Lisa Turner, a fictionalized attorney representing victims’ families[1]
- Diego Luna as Detective Raul Ramirez, a lead investigator connecting Gargiulo’s crimes across states[1]
- Florence Pugh as Ashley Ellison, a composite character embodying multiple survivors and near-victims[1]
- Sterling K. Brown as District Attorney Samuel Price, overseeing the trial[1]
- Connie Britton as Gloria Fenton, a neighbor whose testimony becomes crucial[1]
- Lucas Hedges as Tommy Keller, a journalist covering the Hollywood connections of the case[1]
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 1 | TBA | TBA | TBA | September 19, 2033 | |
| Introduces Michael Gargiulo’s double life in suburban Los Angeles. | ||||||
| 29 | 2 | TBA | TBA | TBA | September 26, 2033 | |
| Focuses on the first known attacks, mixing survivor testimony with dramatizations of ignored red flags. | ||||||
| 30 | 3 | TBA | TBA | TBA | October 3, 2033 | |
| Highlights the growing investigation, connecting crimes across years and states. | ||||||
| 31 | 4 | TBA | TBA | TBA | October 10, 2033 | |
| Depicts trial preparation, including legal maneuvering and media frenzy. | ||||||
| 32 | 5 | TBA | TBA | TBA | October 17, 2033 | |
| Centers on testimony and survivor voices that reshape the courtroom narrative. | ||||||
| 33 | 6 | TBA | TBA | TBA | October 24, 2033 | |
| Reconstructs the high-profile trial, blending archival recreations with dramatized performances. | ||||||
| 34 | 7 | TBA | TBA | TBA | October 31, 2033 | |
| Covers sentencing, aftermath, and cultural impact, emphasizing victims and families. | ||||||
Production
Development
On February 2, 2032, HBO confirmed that the fifth season would be titled The Zodiac Killer.[2] In August 2032, episode titles and a release schedule for the Zodiac version were announced.[3]
On November 12, 2032, HBO scrapped the Zodiac storyline following creative differences and retooled the season into The Hollywood Ripper.[4] Showrunner Jane Holloway stated the pivot allowed her to explore themes of violence “hiding in plain sight” and the intersections of crime with media and celebrity culture.[1]
Budget
The season’s budget exceeded $200 million, the largest in the anthology’s history, attributed to extended delays, expanded sets, courtroom reconstructions, and large-scale dramatizations of Los Angeles and Chicago crime scenes.[5]
Filming
Filming took place in 2032 and early 2033 across Los Angeles and Chicago, with extensive use of courtroom recreations and Hollywood backlot sets.[1]
Release
Monster: The Hollywood Ripper is scheduled to premiere on September 19, 2033, on HBO and Max, with episodes released weekly.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "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) - ↑ "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) - ↑ "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) - ↑ "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) - ↑ "Monster Season 5 Budget Soars Past $200 Million". Variety. November 12, 2032. Retrieved November 12, 2032.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=and|date=(help)
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