Charlie Hunnam reflects ‘joyous’ themes of ‘Monster: Ed Gein Story’

Charlie Hunnam revealed why Netflix’s new series Monster: The Ed Gein Story is surprisingly “joyous,” despite its dark, deeply centered themes.

During the show’s premiere at The Plaza Hotel in New York City on Sept. 30, Hunnam told PEOPLE magazine that he and his castmates felt fulfilled perfecting their craft.

“So there’s the subject matter, and then there’s the actual process,” Hunnam explained. “And we all felt really good about the work we were doing. And so, actually, in terms of the experience we had of trying to make this show every day — just the actual putting our craft into effect — it was really joyous and light.”

Hunnam also took a moment to appreciate the cast and crew, adding, “We were proud of ourselves, and we were reaching for something. And not every day, but more often than not, managing to grab a hold of it.”

The actor noted that he wouldn’t call it an overall “fun experience,” but said it “was very satisfying and a beautiful experience.”

Hunnam also reflected on “finding the truth” of the character and regarded it as “the whole process.”

“We were much more interested in why Ed did what he did, rather than exploring what he did,” he asserted. “Everybody sort of knows what he did, and it’s been chronicled in many films that he inspired, and then direct adaptations of his life.”

“And so that was clearly the mission right from the beginning,” he concluded.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story is available to stream on Netflix.

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