Sarah Paulson’s ‘unrecognisable’ transformation into notorious serial killer for Monster series is sparking backlash
The official trailer for Ryan Murphy’s latest Monster series, The Lizzie Borden Story, has been released - and it included a first look at an unexpected character.
Fans already knew this instalment of the true-crime anthology series, which is released on 17 September, would follow the story of Lizzie Borden (played by Ella Beatty) - an American woman who was tried and acquitted for the 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts.
However, they didn’t know that another well-known figure - Aileen Wuornos - a serial killer who shot, killed, and robbed seven of her male clients between 1989 and 1990, while engaging in street prostitution along highways in Florida, would be making an appearance, played by none other than American Horror Story star Sarah Paulson.
At the end of the trailer, a voice says, “No one really knows what happened that day,” to which Paulson, 51, playing Wuornos, responds: “Oh, I f**kin’ know what happened.”
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Netflix’s Tudum has since confirmed that while Wuornos’ story is not linked to Borden’s, Wuornos ‘plays a major role in scenes set decades later, and Murphy and Brennan depict her as inspired by Lizzie’s legacy’.
Ella Beatty, who plays Borden, told the outlet: "The show is exploring a legacy of female rage and reaction to the set of circumstances that they are presented with.
"I think there’s a connection [between Borden and Wuornos] that Ryan and Ian were interested in mapping and exploring.”
However, not everyone is impressed with the decision to re-tell the story, nor with Paulson’s transformation into the character.
Writing in the comments of a PEOPLE Magazine article that called the star ‘unrecognisable’ in the role, one person brutally commented: “100% recognizable,” while a second agreed: “Literally was like that’s Sarah Paulson.”
A third wrote: “Unrecognizable? Do y'all know what that means?” and a fourth penned: “Looks like Sarah Paulson to me.”
Others explained how they don’t think there’s a need for another depiction of Aileen Wuornos, after Charlize Theron won an Oscar for her portrayal of the serial killer in the 2003 movie Monster, as well as Lily Rabe stepping into the role in American Horror Story.
One Instagram user wrote: “Listen Miss Paulson, I'm gonna let you finish, but @charlizeafrica had the best portrayal of all time! #werkthough.”
While a second chimed in with: “I love Sarah, but Lily Rabe did so good at playing Aileen in AHS: Hotel!”
And a third questioned: “We already saw Charlize win an Oscar for this. Do we really need a show now??”
Others added: “Charlize did what needed to be done. End of discussion” and “What’s the point in this? Charlize ate this performance 25 years ago.”
While another fan questioned: “How many times do we need to see this story told? Enough”
And someone else argued: “Leave that alone. No one can do it better than Charlize, and I love Sarah. It just doesn’t need to be done. Do Bundy or Gacy.”
Not all of the comments were taking issue, though, with another Monsters fan writing:
“Can't wait this is gonna be fantastic!!” and a second agreeing: “I can't wait to see this take!!! Charlize was beyond brilliant....”
A third pointed out “It's not a remake of the movie Charlize did, it's just the same real-life person being portrayed by another actress for a TV show episode. Why is that hard to get?”
Tyla has contacted a rep for Sarah Paulson and Netflix for comment.
Topics: Netflix, Sarah Paulson, True Crime, Entertainment, TV And Film
Madison Burgess