Sons of Anarchy Star Charlie Hunnam Is Returning to TV in a Familiar Role

Fans of “Sons of Anarchy” will see a familiar face when they tune in to the third season of Ryan Murphy’s Netflix smash, “Monster.” This time, it’s Charlie Hunnam stepping into the spotlight—and though it’s a new role in a new series, the gritty, intense material is far from unfamiliar territory for the seasoned actor.

Charlie Hunnam Cast as Ed Gein in Netflix’s ‘Monster’ Anthology

TV mega-producer Ryan Murphy revealed Hunnam’s casting during the premiere of “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” in September. Now entering its third season, the “Monster” anthology dives deep into the darkest corners of American true crime, dramatizing some of the country’s most notorious murder cases.

According to People, Hunnam will portray serial killer Ed Gein, the infamous Wisconsin man whose gruesome crimes in the 1950s shocked the nation. In behind-the-scenes shots from production, Hunnam is seen donning Gein’s chilling look: a red plaid jacket, brown flannel shirt, work trousers, and a vintage comb-over hairstyle that closely mirrors Gein’s real-life appearance.

Gein became a household name after it was discovered he had exhumed graves and used human remains to craft clothing and household items. His disturbing legacy went on to inspire fictional villains like Norman Bates, Leatherface, and Buffalo Bill.

Netflix’s “Monster” franchise kicked off with a bang. Season 1, “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” racked up over one billion views within its first 60 days—an elite milestone achieved by only a handful of shows in the platform’s history. Thanks to that runaway success, Netflix ordered two more seasons, solidifying “Monster” as a key player in the streaming giant’s lineup.

Hunnam’s Familiar With Playing Murderous Characters

Casting Hunnam as Gein may seem like a bold move, but fans of his work know he’s no stranger to playing morally complex, violent characters. His breakout role as Jax Teller in FX’s “Sons of Anarchy”—a conflicted biker gang leader—ran for seven gripping seasons. Hunnam has openly discussed how deeply the role affected him, and how difficult it was to leave Jax behind.

“I felt when I finished “Sons” that it was a real process to get back to center, and try to exorcize him out of my psyche for as much as possible. Because I’d been living with him for eight years, you know, trying to bring him to life,” Hunnam explained to Cinema Blend.

Before “Sons,” he appeared as the charming and chaotic Lloyd in Judd Apatow’s “Undeclared,” and portrayed the infamous leader in Guy Ritchie’s “King Arthur” showing his range early in his career. Now, stepping into the shoes of one of America’s most infamous killers, Hunnam joins a growing list of heartthrobs-turned-homicidal maniacs for the small screen.

As Screen Rant points out, the trend of casting conventionally attractive actors as notorious murderers has only gained steam. Zac Efron portrayed Ted Bundy in “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,” and Evan Peters brought Jeffrey Dahmer to life in “Monster’s” debut season—both performances met with critical acclaim.

Filming for season 3 kicked off in late 2024, but a release date hasn’t been officially confirmed.

Tell us! Will you be tuning in to watch Charlie Hunnam in season 3 of “Monster”? Let us know in the comments below.