Monster anthology · What's next
Monster Season 5: what we actually know
Updated
- Renewed?
- Not announced
- Subject
- Not announced
- Release date
- Not announced
- Last checked
- October 3, 2026
Where things stand
Season 4, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, premiered on September 17, 2026. It opened at No. 1 on Netflix's global TV chart with 12.1 million views in its first four days and rose to 14.5 million in its second week. That is the anthology's softest debut so far, but it is still a chart-topping title.
None of that is a renewal. Netflix confirms Monster seasons with a formal announcement, usually naming the subject at the same time, and it has not made one for Season 5. Until it does, any title, cast list, or premiere date you see for “Monster Season 5” is speculation.
Who the showrunner has floated
Ian Brennan, who wrote all eight episodes of Season 4, was asked about the future in a September 2026 interview with People. He described choosing a subject as tricky — he and Ryan Murphy both have to find a story worth the time — and named four that had come up.
BTK (Dennis Rader)
The Kansas killer who taunted police for decades before his 2005 arrest. Brennan called him “a fascinating one.”
Ted Bundy
The most dramatized American serial killer of all — which is the strongest argument against him as a Monster subject.
The Green River Killer (Gary Ridgway)
A Washington State case built on a two-decade investigation, closer in shape to Dahmer's story of institutional failure.
Luigi Mangione
Charged in the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. A living defendant, which would make it the anthology's most legally sensitive choice.
Treat this as a list of conversations, not a shortlist. Brennan did not say any of them is in development, and the anthology has surprised before: few predicted Lizzie Borden, a woman acquitted in 1893, after three seasons about convicted men.
How the first four seasons were announced
| Season | Ordered / named | Premiered |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 — Dahmer | Original limited series | September 21, 2022 |
| Season 2 — Menendez | Two-season anthology order, November 7, 2022; subject named May 1, 2023 | September 19, 2024 |
| Season 3 — Ed Gein | Subject named September 16, 2024 | October 3, 2025 |
| Season 4 — Lizzie Borden | Subject named July 2025 | September 17, 2026 |
| Season 5 | Not announced | Not announced |
Two patterns stand out. Every season has premiered between mid-September and early October. And each subject was public at least a year before release — Season 3's Ed Gein was revealed days before Season 2 premiered, and Season 4's Lizzie Borden was confirmed more than a year ahead.
Season 5 has not followed that pattern yet: no subject was named around the Season 4 premiere. If Netflix does order another season, a release before fall 2027 would break the anthology's rhythm. That is an inference from the calendar, not a prediction anyone involved has made.
What would count as confirmation
- A Netflix announcement — on Netflix Tudum, its press site, or its official social accounts — ordering Season 5.
- A named subject or title from Netflix, Ryan Murphy, or Ian Brennan presented as a decision, not a possibility.
- Trade reporting (Deadline, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter) of casting or a production start.
Fan-made trailers, “leaked” posters, and YouTube videos announcing a Season 5 subject are not confirmation.
Questions
Is there going to be a Monster Season 5?
Netflix has not announced one as of October 3, 2026. Season 4 debuted at No. 1 on Netflix's global TV chart and grew in its second week, and the creators have discussed future subjects, but neither is a renewal. This page will change when Netflix confirms an order.
Who will Monster Season 5 be about?
Unknown. In a September 2026 interview, showrunner Ian Brennan said he and Ryan Murphy had talked about BTK (Dennis Rader), Ted Bundy, the Green River Killer, and Luigi Mangione. He framed them as conversations, not decisions.
When would Monster Season 5 come out?
There is no date. Every season so far has premiered between mid-September and early October, and each subject was named about a year or more before release. If that pattern holds, a fifth season would be unlikely before fall 2027 — an inference from past releases, not an announcement.
Does the Season 4 ending hint at Season 5?
Brennan said before Season 4 premiered that its ending was not a hint about the next subject. Aileen Wuornos appears in Season 4 as a parallel to Lizzie Borden, not as a teaser for a Wuornos season.
Is the Netflix film UNABOMBER part of Monster?
No. UNABOMBER (2026) is a standalone Netflix film, not a season of the Monster anthology.
Sources
- CBR — Monster showrunner on Season 5 subjects — Ian Brennan's comments to People, published September 20, 2026, naming BTK, Ted Bundy, the Green River Killer, and Luigi Mangione.
- Wikipedia — Monster (American TV series) — Season order history: the November 2022 anthology renewal and the announcement date for each subject.
- Wikipedia — Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story — Season 4 viewing figures from Netflix's weekly Top 10 reports.