Sarah Paulson is set to reunite with long-time collaborator Ryan Murphy for the upcoming fourth season of his Netflix anthology series, “Monster.” Sources indicate that Paulson is nearing a deal to portray the infamous serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the series. While Season 4 is primarily focused on the notorious Lizzie Borden and the axe murders of her father and stepmother, Paulson's casting as Wuornos suggests a broader theme for the season, potentially exploring Borden’s influence on the perception and interconnectedness of other female killers. This approach mirrors Season 3, which delved into the cultural impact of Ed Gein’s crimes.

Production for the new season is currently underway in Los Angeles. The cast for the Lizzie Borden narrative includes Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden, with Charlie Hunnam — who recently played Ed Gein in “Monster” Season 3 — starring as her father, Andrew Jackson Borden. Rebecca Hall will play Lizzie’s stepmother, Abby, and Billie Lourd will portray Lizzie’s sister, Emma Borden. Jessica Barden is cast as Nance O’Neill, Lizzie’s friend, while Vicky Krieps will appear as the Borden family’s maid, Bridget Sullivan.

Aileen Wuornos, whom Paulson is slated to play, was convicted of murdering seven men in Florida and was executed in 2002. Her story has been the subject of numerous documentaries and books, notably inspiring the 2003 film “Monster,” for which Charlize Theron earned an Academy Award for Best Actress. Other actresses who have portrayed Wuornos onscreen include Peyton List, Jean Smart, and Lily Rabe, with Rabe having played the role in the fifth season of another Ryan Murphy production, “American Horror Story.”

This role marks the latest in a long series of collaborations between Sarah Paulson and Ryan Murphy. Paulson has been a prominent figure in almost every season of Murphy’s “American Horror Story,” earning five Emmy nominations for her performances and recently confirming her return for the upcoming 13th season. She also starred in “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” and “Impeachment: American Crime Story,” both of which Murphy executive produced and directed. Paulson’s portrayal in “People v. OJ” earned her an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a limited series. Her extensive work with Murphy also includes the Netflix series “Ratched,” the first season of “Feud,” and the Hulu legal drama “All’s Fair.”

Beyond her contributions to the “Murphy-verse,” Paulson has garnered acclaim for roles in television series such as “Mrs. America” and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” and in films like “12 Years a Slave,” “Glass,” and “Ocean’s 8.” An accomplished stage actress, Paulson won a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in “Appropriate.” She is represented by CAA, Entertainment 360, Hansen Jacobson, and Birch Public Relations.