Monsters star Javier Bardem reveals he does not want to meet the Menendez brothers

Monsters star Javier Bardem reveals he does not want to meet the Menendez brothers

As a fervent admirer of the arts and a connoisseur of captivating performances, I find myself deeply moved by Javier Bardem‘s portrayal of José Menendez in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” His decision not to engage with the real-life characters behind his role resonates profoundly with me.


Actor Javier Bardem, who plays a role in the Netflix series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” has explained why he prefers not to meet the real-life brothers that the show portrays.

Earlier this year, a miniseries featuring Javier Bardem as José Menendez, a character later murdered by his sons Lyle and Erik, as well as their mother Kitty (portrayed by Chloë Sevigny), premiered on the streaming platform.

Prior to filming, a thorough investigation was conducted on the Menendez family and the related case; however, neither Bardem nor his fellow actors contacted the brothers, who are incarcerated for life, or their relatives either before or during the production process.

According to Bardem, he said “I wasn’t keen on,” to Variety. To begin with, I was not familiar with the story because, at that time, it wasn’t popular in Spain where I reside.

After delving into it, I found myself astonished, ‘This is incredibly private information.’ However, my attempts to find more about him proved futile. There was minimal material available, primarily consisting of what others, particularly his kids, shared about him.

Monsters star Javier Bardem reveals he does not want to meet the Menendez brothers

After the unveiling of Monsters, a Los Angeles County district attorney suggested that a judge reconsider the sentence for the brothers due to fresh evidence, necessitating a fresh look.

George Gascón, the leading prosecutor of Los Angeles County, stated on October 24th that he thinks the brothers experienced a great deal of dysfunction at home and abuse.

He added that: “I believe they have paid their debt to society.”

In more casual terms, after playing Erik on the show, Cooper Koch made a jail visit to the actual characters he portrayed and even spoke with the real-life Erik over the phone just prior to the series’ debut on Netflix.

Koch shared with Variety that he had an in-depth discussion with him, expressing my confidence in him, stating my efforts to support him as an actor, portraying him truthfully, and my belief that the show does a commendable job of reflecting him accurately.

Our chat was quite enjoyable. We discussed various topics, including the fact that we both attended Calabasas High School, a school he moved to when he first settled in California.

The year prior to when Erik started at Beverly Hills High School, my father had already graduated. It’s quite strange how many similarities we seem to share.

Monsters star Javier Bardem reveals he does not want to meet the Menendez brothers

Nicholas Chavez, who portrayed Lyle Menendez, wasn’t specifically informed about visiting the brothers, yet he stated to Vanity Fair that he wouldn’t have attended if invited.

In my opinion, a significant aspect of being an artist involves the ability to immerse oneself deeply into a character or role, and then let it go once the work is completed. This was expressed by him to the publication.

A significant aspect of my future artistic journey involves understanding when it’s appropriate to let go of certain roles. Refusing to make those visits is, in part, a reflection of this decision.

If you’re intrigued by true crime stories, like me, don’t miss out on “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” which is now streaming on Netflix! You can sign up for this fantastic service starting at just £4.99 a month. Plus, Netflix is available not only through their own platform but also on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. So, grab your popcorn and dive into the world of suspense and intrigue!

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2024-11-25 16:03