Max Winkler on Directing Hunnam in Monster, Casting
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- Max Winkler directs the first episode of the FX/Hulu series Love Story about JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette after Ryan Murphy exited the project last minute
- Charlie Hunnam undergoes a drastic physical transformation for Monster: Ed Gein, losing around 40 pounds and adopting a warbling accent while working under Max Winkler in Chicago’s harsh winter
- Paul Anthony Kelly is cast as JFK Jr. in Love Story after impressing Winkler and Ryan Murphy with his unpretentious audition and real-life shaggy service dog Malcolm
- Max Winkler describes Monster: Ed Gein as a twisted love story between a son and his mother, continuing his collaboration with Hunnam and entry into Ryan Murphy’s television universe
Why it matters: Hunnam’s extreme method approach raises the bar for character immersion in true crime dramas, signaling a shift toward more physically and emotionally demanding roles in prestige TV. The cost to the actor’s health underscores the growing intensity of performance expectations in the genre.
