Entertainment
Charlie Hunnam reveals chilling transformation into serial killer Ed Gein for Ryan Murphy’s Monster… “I didn’t want to glamorize it”
In the new season of Monster, Charlie Hunnam takes on the disturbing role of Ed Gein, the 1950s killer who inspired Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The actor says he approached the role with care, realism, and guidance from Sarah Paulson.
The fall TV season just got darker — and more fascinating — as Charlie Hunnam steps into one of the most unsettling roles of his career: portraying infamous serial killer Ed Gein in the latest season of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s anthology crime series, Monster.
Following the global success of Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, this new chapter titled Monster: The Story of Ed Gein revisits the 1950s Wisconsin murderer whose real-life crimes inspired some of Hollywood’s most iconic horror villains — from Norman Bates in Psycho to Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs.
ALSO READ : Trump family linked American Bitcoin seals Nasdaq debut after merger with Gryphon shareholders say yes
But Hunnam says his portrayal is not meant to sensationalize Gein’s gruesome acts — it’s meant to understand them.
“I read every single book that had been written about him — and there were a lot of books,” Hunnam told The Hollywood Reporter at the show’s New York City premiere. “I read all of the court transcriptions, all of his medical records. And then I read the scripts over and over to understand what would drive a human being to do some of the pretty wild things he did — pretty despicable acts.”
“We were serious about understanding the man — not glamorizing him”
Hunnam, known globally for his role as Jax Teller in Sons of Anarchy, admitted that embodying Gein took an emotional toll.
“We were really very serious about trying to understand the man and not just sensationalize this, and certainly not glamorize it at all,” he said.
The 44-year-old actor emphasized that the goal wasn’t to turn Gein into a cinematic monster, but rather to explore the psychological decay that led him there — a story, Hunnam says, about “mental health and the consequences of abuse and isolation.”
Gein, a reclusive farmer, was convicted of multiple murders and grave robberies in the 1950s. His shocking crimes — which included exhuming corpses and crafting household items and clothing from human skin — have haunted American culture for decades.
In portraying such a figure, Hunnam said he had to “disconnect from judgment” and instead focus on the environment that shaped him.
“This was about asking how trauma, isolation, and untreated illness can create something tragic and monstrous,” he explained.
Sarah Paulson’s surprising advice
Interestingly, Hunnam didn’t reach out to Evan Peters — who won an Emmy Award for playing Jeffrey Dahmer in the first Monster season — for advice.
“I’ve never met Evan Peters. I’m an enormous fan of his work. I would love to get to meet him, but I never had an opportunity to,” Hunnam said.
Instead, he turned to another of Ryan Murphy’s regular collaborators: Sarah Paulson, his longtime friend and star of American Horror Story.
“I bumped into Sarah Paulson, who’s worked with Ryan Murphy a lot and tackled some pretty dark characters, and she’s an old friend of mine,” he said. “So I asked her advice about navigating it and she was really kind. She basically said, ‘Challenge yourself. Don’t be afraid. It’s inside you, just look deep and find it.’”
That advice, Hunnam said, gave him the courage to dive fully into the role — even when it became emotionally draining.
Inside Ryan Murphy’s new “Monster” season
The Monster anthology, produced by Netflix and co-created by Murphy and Brennan, aims to explore the psychology of real-life figures who shocked the world.
This new season, however, departs from Dahmer’s urban modern horror to the bleak, rural terror of 1950s America. Shot across eerie Midwestern landscapes, Monster: The Story of Ed Gein reportedly leans less on gore and more on psychological dread — exploring how Gein’s twisted obsession with his mother and his isolated upbringing in Plainfield, Wisconsin, led to his horrific crimes.
Hunnam’s transformation into Gein required months of research, both psychological and physical. Insiders from the production note that the actor adopted Gein’s posture, rural accent, and eerie mannerisms, while spending time in isolation to understand the killer’s mental state.
“Charlie completely disappears into the role,” said one of the producers during the premiere. “He approached it with empathy, not sympathy — and that’s a hard line to walk.”
A balance between horror and humanity
For Hunnam, Monster: The Story of Ed Gein isn’t just another dark drama — it’s a meditation on how society overlooks mental illness until it turns catastrophic.
“We’ve seen the sensationalized versions of Ed Gein in movies for decades,” he said. “But this series looks at what made him — how someone so isolated, traumatized, and untreated could become a reflection of the darker parts of all of us.”
It’s a perspective that mirrors Murphy’s long-standing fascination with human fragility, trauma, and morality — themes that have made his shows like American Horror Story, Ratched, and Feud both horrifying and thought-provoking.
As the series debuts, audiences can expect both a haunting crime story and a chilling character study — one that might force viewers to look beyond the monster and into the broken mind that created him.
Entertainment
How ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Returned to Cinemas and Reclaimed Box Office Glory
Renewed ticket sales send Marvel’s 2019 finale past ‘Avatar’ to lead the all-time global chart again.
Seven years after its original release, Avengers: Endgame has unfinished business at the box office.
The Marvel Studios blockbuster has overtaken James Cameron’s Avatar to become the highest-grossing film worldwide once again. According to The Walt Disney Company’s October 4 announcement, Endgame now holds an estimated $2.9255 billion, narrowly ahead of Avatar’s $2.9237 billion. That puts just $1.8 million between two of cinema’s biggest hits.
The lead is small. The comeback, however, is substantial: a film released in 2019 has drawn enough fresh ticket sales to rewrite the all-time chart.
The ‘Encore’ release that tipped the balance
The latest theatrical run, titled Avengers Endgame: Encore, has earned $126 million worldwide, according to TheWrap. That includes $36.2 million in North America and $89.8 million from international markets—the extra business that pushed the film back into first place.
Audiences also had a reason to return beyond revisiting a familiar blockbuster. TheWrap reports that the reissue features a modified ending and three new scenes during and after the credits, connected to Avengers: Doomsday. The release therefore serves two purposes: bringing an established favourite back to cinemas and giving viewers a bridge to the next Avengers story.
ALSO READ : Emmy Nominations Announcement Gets a Star Twist… Liza Colón-Zayas & Jeff Hiller Set to Reveal 2026 TV Nominees
A rivalry with a history of reversals
This is another change of leadership in a box office contest that has lasted for years.
Endgame first displaced Avatar in 2019. Cameron’s science-fiction epic regained the crown following its Chinese re-release in 2021. Now, another theatrical return has swung the result in Marvel’s favour. Re-releases have become a decisive part of the competition, extending both films’ earning lives well beyond their original runs.
The distinction matters: this is the record for worldwide theatrical revenue without adjustment for inflation, including re-release earnings. It measures money collected rather than the number of tickets sold.
Why ‘Endgame’ matters to ‘Doomsday’
The timing gives Marvel’s comeback an added significance. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to reach cinemas on December 18, 2026, and Disney has positioned Endgame as an important foundation for that next chapter.
Explaining the connection, Anthony Russo said: “You really need to pick the story up from where you left it in Endgame.”
That makes this return more than a victory lap. A film remembered for closing a major chapter of Marvel’s story is now helping introduce the next one—and, along the way, has taken back Hollywood’s most closely watched box office title.
Entertainment
Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ Faces a Tough Opening: Could ‘Verity’ Take the Lead?
Cruise’s star power meets a fresh box office challenge as the Colleen Hoover adaptation emerges as a formidable rival.
Tom Cruise has spent years persuading audiences to watch him attempt the impossible. With Digger, the challenge is different: convincing moviegoers to embrace an eccentric, darkly comic character who bears little resemblance to his familiar action heroes.
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, the film arrives in US cinemas on October 2, 2026, carrying considerable expectations. Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an oil tycoon confronting a catastrophe connected to his company’s actions. It is a conspicuous departure for an actor whose recent screen identity has been shaped by spectacular stunts and blockbuster franchises.
Yet the conversation before release has increasingly turned from Cruise’s transformation to a more uncomfortable question: how many people will buy a ticket?
ALSO READ : Emmy Nominations Announcement Gets a Star Twist… Liza Colón-Zayas & Jeff Hiller Set to Reveal 2026 TV Nominees
A costly film facing a modest opening
According to Koimoi’s September 30 report, Digger was tracking for a North American opening below $15 million, against a reported production cost of approximately $125 million. These are reported estimates, rather than confirmed earnings or a final accounting of the film’s costs.
That gap explains the concern surrounding Warner Bros.. An expensive production needs sustained attendance, and a subdued debut would place greater pressure on subsequent weekends and overseas markets.
An opening forecast cannot establish a film’s eventual profit or loss. It can, however, reveal how much work remains for the campaign.
Reviews have complicated the pitch
The critical response has been sharply divided. People reported reactions ranging from admiration for the film’s audacity and Cruise’s commitment to criticism of its scale, coherence and tone.
For potential ticket buyers, that creates an uncertain proposition. Cruise’s presence attracts attention, but attention does not automatically translate into enthusiasm for an unfamiliar kind of film.
The promotional campaign has leaned into that disagreement. The Guardian described advertising that places harsh reactions alongside praise, using the controversy itself to generate interest. Whether that approach encourages curiosity or deepens hesitation remains an open question.
Why ‘Verity’ makes the weekend more intriguing
The Hollywood Reporter expects Digger to open substantially behind Verity, the Amazon MGM Studios adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel. hollywoodreporter.com
Starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett, Verity is also scheduled to open on October 2. Its psychological-thriller premise centres on a writer who discovers a disturbing manuscript while completing another author’s book series.
From a marketing perspective, an established novel and a recognisable thriller setup could offer a more immediate hook. Digger, by comparison, asks audiences to take a greater leap into unfamiliar territory.
The audience verdict is still ahead
Cruise has clearly committed to that leap. At the London premiere, Reuters reported that his transformation involved prosthetics and a padded bodysuit, alongside a demanding performance.
The commercial outcome remains unresolved. Strong audience recommendations could give Digger momentum beyond its initial forecasts. A weak response would make its financial challenge harder.
For now, the film’s biggest suspense lies beyond the screen: whether curiosity about Cruise’s unusual gamble becomes an opening-weekend ticket purchase.
Entertainment
‘Verity’ Could Outopen ‘Digger’: Why Tom Cruise Faces a Tough Contest
The competing releases raise a compelling question: which film will persuade more audiences to buy a ticket?
Tom Cruise has spent years persuading audiences to watch him attempt the impossible. With Digger, the challenge is different: convincing moviegoers to embrace an eccentric, darkly comic character who bears little resemblance to his familiar action heroes.
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, the film arrives in US cinemas on October 2, 2026, carrying considerable expectations. Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an oil tycoon confronting a catastrophe connected to his company’s actions. It is a conspicuous departure for an actor whose recent screen identity has been shaped by spectacular stunts and blockbuster franchises.
Yet the conversation before release has increasingly turned from Cruise’s transformation to a more uncomfortable question: how many people will buy a ticket?
ALSO READ : Emmy Nominations Announcement Gets a Star Twist… Liza Colón-Zayas & Jeff Hiller Set to Reveal 2026 TV Nominees
A costly film facing a modest opening
According to Koimoi’s September 30 report, Digger was tracking for a North American opening below $15 million, against a reported production cost of approximately $125 million. These are reported estimates, rather than confirmed earnings or a final accounting of the film’s costs.
That gap explains the concern surrounding Warner Bros.. An expensive production needs sustained attendance, and a subdued debut would place greater pressure on subsequent weekends and overseas markets.
An opening forecast cannot establish a film’s eventual profit or loss. It can, however, reveal how much work remains for the campaign.
Reviews have complicated the pitch
The critical response has been sharply divided. People reported reactions ranging from admiration for the film’s audacity and Cruise’s commitment to criticism of its scale, coherence and tone.
For potential ticket buyers, that creates an uncertain proposition. Cruise’s presence attracts attention, but attention does not automatically translate into enthusiasm for an unfamiliar kind of film.
The promotional campaign has leaned into that disagreement. The Guardian described advertising that places harsh reactions alongside praise, using the controversy itself to generate interest. Whether that approach encourages curiosity or deepens hesitation remains an open question.
Why ‘Verity’ makes the weekend more intriguing
The Hollywood Reporter expects Digger to open substantially behind Verity, the Amazon MGM Studios adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel. hollywoodreporter.com
Starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett, Verity is also scheduled to open on October 2. Its psychological-thriller premise centres on a writer who discovers a disturbing manuscript while completing another author’s book series.
From a marketing perspective, an established novel and a recognisable thriller setup could offer a more immediate hook. Digger, by comparison, asks audiences to take a greater leap into unfamiliar territory.
The audience verdict is still ahead
Cruise has clearly committed to that leap. At the London premiere, Reuters reported that his transformation involved prosthetics and a padded bodysuit, alongside a demanding performance.
The commercial outcome remains unresolved. Strong audience recommendations could give Digger momentum beyond its initial forecasts. A weak response would make its financial challenge harder.
For now, the film’s biggest suspense lies beyond the screen: whether curiosity about Cruise’s unusual gamble becomes an opening-weekend ticket purchase.
How ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Returned to Cinemas and Reclaimed Box Office Glory
Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ Faces a Tough Opening: Could ‘Verity’ Take the Lead?
‘Verity’ Could Outopen ‘Digger’: Why Tom Cruise Faces a Tough Contest
‘Endgame’ Returns to No. 1 ‘Avatar’ Loses Its Box Office Throne
Mark Zuckerberg Faces a New Hollywood Reckoning Why Aaron Sorkin’s Film Hits Closer to Home
1-Iran Issues Dire Warning to Israel and Defies Trump on Nukes: “We’re Ready to Strike Deep Inside”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Calls It a ‘Cesspool of Corruption’ — Here’s Why Senators Are Now Fighting Back Against the DOJ’s Live Nation Deal That Left Every Fan Betrayed…
Gucci bets on Demna to revive fading glamour as Milan fashion week opens with bold film surprise
Donald Trump’s net worth reveals the fortune behind the former US President and business mogul
“Tomás Rodríguez Net Worth 2025: Panama’s Gold Cup Goal‑Machine’s Surprising Fortune Revealed”
Miss Jamaica Suffers Terrifying Fall Off Miss Universe Stage; Rushed to Hospital on Stretcher in Viral Video
Moana Live-Action Teaser Sparks Outrage as Fans Call Disney’s Move a ‘Clear Money Grab’ — What Went Wrong?
Ryan Gosling’s Project Hail Mary Trailer Stuns Fans with a Mysterious Alien Ally and a Mission That Could Save Earth
Apple delays Jessica Chastain thriller The Savant about domestic extremism after recent US violence
