June 30, 2023
Out Actor Cooper Koch Signed for Season 2 of Ryan Murphy's 'Monster'
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Out actor Cooper Koch – who starred in recent horror films "They/Them" and "Swallowed" – has signed on to play one of the Menendez brothers in Season 2 of Ryan Murphy's anthology series.
Deadline reported that Koch, 26, has landed the role of Eric Menendez, while Nicholas Alexander Chavez, 23, will play the other Menendez brother, Lyle.
The second season of the hit series "will tell the story of the real-life brothers who were convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, José and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menéndez," Deadline relayed.
"Although the siblings eventually confessed to parricide, they have long sustained that the reason for their actions was due to physical, emotional and sexual abuse."
Deadline went on to add: "The case continues to unfold in real-time following a new development revealed in May. Erik and Lyle Menendez filed documents asking for a new hearing in response to former Menudo bandmember Roy Rosselló's claims he was molested by José Menendez at the age of 14."
As reported previously at EDGE, "In addition to the scripted series, Netflix will also reportedly have access to the real brothers for a forthcoming documentary feature."
Variety detailed that "Netflix confirmed the subject and title of 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story' in May," and noted that "This will be the first of the two additional 'Monster' installments that Netflix ordered after 'Dahmer – The Jeffrey Dahmer Story' became the streamer's No. 2 most popular English-language series of all time."
Listing the actors' credits, Deadline recalled that "Koch previously appeared in Season 1 of the hit Starz drama 'Power Book II: Ghost'," and, more recently, "he has appeared in the horror films 'Swallowed' and 'They/Them.'"
"Chavez currently portrays Spencer Cassadine on ABC's 'General Hospital,'" Deadline added. "He also appeared in the Tubi Original, 'Crushed.'"
In a recent interview with EDGE, Koch averred, "I'm not being offered any roles at this point." But with well-regarded turns in "They/Them" and "Swallowed" already to his credit, the next chapter in the Ryan Murphy series could well prove a breakout role.
Season 1 of "Monster" starred longtime Murphy collaborator Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer, a gay serial killer who feasted on the flesh of his victims. The series proved controversial, but was such a massive success that it guaranteed further seasons.
It is not currently known what notorious figure Season 3 will center on.
Koch, a prolific model as well as an actor, does not seem to have an Instagram account, but check out some images of him that others have posted on the platform: