Evan Peters set to play cannibal serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in Ryan Murphy’s new Netflix series

Evan Peters will reportedly play Jeffrey Dahmer in Ryan Murphy’s new Netflix series about the serial killer, cannibal and sex offender.

The 34-year-old is one of Murphy’s go-to actors, having starred in all seasons bar one of American Horror Story and the first season of Pose.

So it makes perfect sense that he’s been chosen to play Dahmer in Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

According to Deadline, Peters – most recently seen in WandaVision – will play the role of one of America’s most notorious serial killers in the show, which will largely be told from the perspective of Dahmer’s victims.

The series will reportedly dramatise 10 instances where Dahmer was almost apprehended but ultimately let go, and is also expected to explore white privilege, as the clean-cut Dahmer was given free passes and leniency by police and judges when he had been charged with petty crimes.

Another Murphy collaborator Niecy Nash will play Glenda Cleveland, Dahmer’s neighbour who called the police numerous times and even attempted to alert the FBI about Dahmer’s erratic behaviour.

Penelope Ann Miller and Richard Jenkins will play Dahmer’s mother Joyce and father Lionel, , with Shaun J Brown set to play Tracy, Dahmer’s last intended victim who managed to escape, and Colin Ford cast as a character called Chazz.

Mindhunter’s Carl Franklin will direct the pilot, with Pose’s Janet Mock also set to direct and write several episodes.

This is far from the first film or TV series to chronicle Dahmer’s crimes – Jeremy Renner played the killer in 2002’s Dahmer, while Ross Lynch most recently played him in My Friend Dahmer in 2017.

However, Monster will focus more on how the crimes were allowed to happen over more than a decade, rather than the gory details of the story.

Known as the Milwaukee Cannibal or the Milwaukee Monster, Dahmer murdered and dismembered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, many of them underage and persons of colour.

He was convicted of 16 murders and served two years in prison before he was beaten to death by a fellow inmate in 1994 at the age of 34.

Murphy will likely have high hopes for Monster, considering the success of his previous true crime series.

American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson won nine Emmys including outstanding limited series and best mini-series at the Golden Globes, while the second season, The Assassination of Gianni Versace, won three Emmys, including outstanding limited series and best actor for Darren Criss.

A third season, Impeachment, is in the works and will cover the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Netflix has yet to confirm the casting of Monster.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Peters’ rep for comment.

MORE : Doctor Who’s Catherine Tate addresses speculation Donna Noble is returning for series 13

MORE : American Horror Story season 10: Supermodel Kaia Gerber joins cast of Double Feature