Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story effectively sets up another serial killer's story for season 2. Ryan Murphy's series investigating the life, crimes, and societal and cultural impact of the Milwaukee Monster, whose crimes spanned from 1978 to 1991, quickly became a smash-hit after it's release on Netflix on September 21, 2022, bringing in over 196.2 million viewers in its first week alone. Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story's massive success has sent the rumor mill spinning about a potential continuation of the series, with speculation rising about who might be the next subject to be put underneath Murphy's microscope.

Monster's controversial dramatization of Jeffrey Dahmer's heinous crimes has grabbed viewers across the globe, whether that be out of fascination or disgust, and the series has received some praise for focusing not just on Dahmer but also the stories of his neighbors, family, and victims. There is a vast selection of similarly horrific, notorious killers who could be the focus of a potential Monster season 2, but it was Ed Gein and John Wayne Gacy who seemed to get some attention during The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. The inclusion of these killers was completely unnecessary for the story, other than the fact that Dahmer was baptized on the same day that Gacy was executed, so this could be suggesting that either one of these men could steal Dahmer's spotlight in a potential Monster season 2.

Related: What Happened To Everyone Involved In Dahmer's Story After Monster Ended

Are There Plans For Monster Season 2 On Netflix?

A crop of the Dahmer poster with a closeup of his face

The story of Jeffrey Dahmer's life was wrapped up entirely at the end of Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, so there's no chance of Monster season 2 focusing on any other aspect of Dahmer. Since Dahmer's story has already been told, it's possible that Ryan Murphy could follow his anthology trend from American Horror Story and American Crime Story and focus on other infamous serial killers instead, akin to the Netflix true-crime documentary series, Conversations With a Killer, whose latest installment on Dahmer seemed to be released at the perfect time. It seems likely that Netflix will want to cash in on Monster's monumental success and develop at least one more season with Murphy at the helm.

Despite this, The Jeffrey Dahmer Story was produced as a one-and-done limited series for Netflix four years into Murphy's five-year deal with the streaming service, which so far has seen the production of titles such as The Politician, Ratched, and Hollywood, which were all met with a mixed reception. Murphy hasn't confirmed development on Monster season 2, but with the success of the show, it wouldn't come as a surprise if more seasons were created. Even so, with the release of Monster and Mr. Harrigan's Phone (on which Murphy served as producer), and with The Watcher and American Horror Story: New York City both releasing in October, Murphy might want to take a break after producing so much, meaning it could be a while before the true-crime show releases Monster season 2 even if plans are made.

How Monster Could Continue Without Jeffrey Dahmer

Dahmer walking past a set of cells

Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story has a huge amount of potential to become yet another of Ryan Murphy's anthology series. Netflix has been on a true-crime kick for the last few years, with the popularity of the exploration of human darkness becoming more and more apparent, but Monster seems to stand out from the crowd. There are several routes that Netflix and Murphy could go down with the continuation of the series, two of which have been tried and tested already with American Horror Story and American Crime Story on FX.

American Horror Story features a new story each season while utilizing the same principal cast members throughout. Whereas American Crime Story still features a new story, but shakes up the cast each season, bringing new faces to the forefront in roles audiences might not have expected them to be playing. Either one of these techniques would work perfectly for the true crime show if Monster season 2 went forward. Even though the focus on Dahmer might be over, a new cast could come in telling a new, harrowing story and still live up to the legacy of The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

Related: Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Sparked An Important True Crime Debate

Every Serial Killer That Could Be The Focus Of Monster Season 2

Monster Without Dahmer Gacy

If Netflix and Ryan Murphy are to produce Monster season 2, there are plenty of serial killers they could focus on. The most obvious candidate would be John Wayne Gacy, who was featured prominently in The Jeffrey Dahmer Story's finale episode, "God of Forgiveness, God of Vengeance." Between 1967 and 1978, Gacy murdered at least 33 young men and boys, burying most of them in the crawl space beneath his home. Gacy is one of the most infamous serial killers in American history, making his story the perfect choice for a full-length season. In Monster, Jeffrey Dahmer also found himself getting compared to Ed Gein, who also pled insanity at his trial after two murders, seven suspected murders, and nine occasions of exhuming corpses and desecrating graves.

While both Gacy and Gein would be pertinent subjects for an intense exploration as the one shown in Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, there are several other choices who would be perfect for the series. The likes of Ted Bundy, Richard Ramirez, and Edmund Kemper could all be featured, especially since Netflix viewers will already be familiar with them after shows such as Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer and Mindhunter. While popularity skyrockets for Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, only time will tell whether the season could just be the start of a Netflix true-crime dynasty.

Next: Monster: What Happened To The Police Officers Who Returned Dahmer's Victim