One of TV’s busiest producers at any given time, Ryan Murphy finally gave American Horror Story fans more reasons to look forward to the upcoming Season 13, which will hopefully wrap in time to debut on the 2026 TV schedule. Initially through a Jessica Lange-infused first look, and then through the confirmation that the anthology’s newest chapter will return to the bewitching city of New Orleans for a proper Coven sequel that's bringing all kinds of former stars back.

Gloriously, Murphy followed that up with daily character reveals, first with the returning Sarah Paulson as Cordelia Goode, and then with a clip earlier today of Emma Roberts back in b---h mode as the irrepressible Madison Montgomery. Check out the vid, which is set within the hallowed halls of Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies, which Murphy confirmed was rebuilt in NOLA to film the season.

Truth be told, Madison remains one of my least favorite AHS characters, but entirely for the reasons why so many other fans love her. So it's more of a love to hate kind of thing than pure disinterest.

But Coven did feature one of my favorite American Horror Story characters, and it's one whose return status is currently unclear, as the actress is not among the cast members that has been announced for Season 13. Not that it's stopping fans from calling for her to be included.

I Stand With Fans Who Want Lily Rabe's Misty Day Back For Season 13

One of the most tragic characters conceived for this anthology series, Misty Day was a witch who was legitimately burned at the stake, Salem style, for bringing an animal back to life. She remains a part of the season by bringing certain characters back form the afterlife, but just when it seemed like she'd be made whole again, Misty surprisingly remained stuck in hell at the end of Coven’s season.

Thankfully, that wasn't the last fans saw of her. Misty finally did make a canonically legitimate return to the land of the living after Apocalypse’s time-traveling shenanigans reversed many characters’ deaths by killing off the Antichrist Michael. So for all intents and purposes, Misty is still presumably capable of coming back. (I mean, she might not want to for obvious "avoiding being burned to death" reasons.)

Admist the myriad positive comments calling Paulson and Roberts' characters "Mother," and people going relatively gaga in general, some fans are calling for other characters to return beyond the ones we've seen so far, and I'm putting all my support behind everyone asking for Misty to grace us with her presence again.

• We need Myrtle Snow & Misty Day next!!!! 🙌 - @aseemocean
• Where is Misty???? When will they get married to Cordelia???? - @popsi.cat
• WE NEED MISTY - @rayfray
• Bring back her girlfriend Misty Day - @karialarconb
• A COVEN SEASON WITHOUT THE ICONIC MYRTLE SNOW AND MISTY DAY IS BLASPHEMY! - @goldcrucifix
• Where is your wife Misty Day? 😭 we need her 😭 - @pink___swan
• I cannot wait for this!!! Finally!!! The best season of this show!!!! Bring back Misty Day and Myrtle!!! Please!!! - @jessicakesutah
• omggg now all we need is misty back - @headbangeeerrrrrr

While I'm admittedly single-minded in my hopes for Lily Rabe to tap into her inner Steve Nicks again, I can't exactly deny those above and elsewhere also calling for Frances Conroy's Myrtle Snow to also return to Miss Robicheaux's. Not to mention those hoping to see Jamie Brewer's Nan again after she also popped back up in Apocalypse.

As far as new cast members go, the ever-wonderful John Waters is joining this universe for an as yet undisclosed role, while pop queen movie star Ariana Grande is also in the mix, and has been dying to talk about it. Maybe Grande will be playing the new musical witch that Misty connects with. I may take offense of this season ends up being a big Wicked crossover, though.

Never before in its going-on-13-year run has American Horror Story gone a full two years between new seasons, but April 24 marks the second anniversary of Delicate’s finale (which probably doesn’t justify party favors), and there’s no guarantee that the upcoming horror series’ next season will actually debut on the 2026 TV schedule. But praise be to the Minotaur, as Ryan Murphy and FX have finally delivered something tangible for Season 13. Or should I say, something Lange-ible.

Yeah, I’ll admit that was a rougher pun than I’d expected, but it’s all for the greater good of seeing Jessica Lange back in the mix for the very first look at the new season. Regardless of how new it may be, fans will no doubt instantly recognize the familiar setting and character.

Oh hell to the yeah to the Satan. Or whatever dark entities we believe are responsible for the many atrocities that went down inside that very establishment. The location used for Murder House will forever be recognizable for its windows, as well as for all the haunted s--t that's gone down in there over the years. And the commenters are all over that connection as well. Check out some of the most ecstatic responses, with even Kyle Richards sharing a "Yesss" comment.

• My only reason to live at this point ✨💕😍
• Mother has ARRIVED 👏
• CONSTANCE LANGDON?! NEW MURDER HOUSE CONTENT IN THE YEAR 2026?!? LFG🔥😭🙌🏽
• The Queen is back 👏👏👏
• OMGGG OUR SUPREME ❤️‍🔥
• and STILL in a four inch pump. our Constance!!!
• Take me to Knotty Pine! 😭🙌
• OMG need Jessica Lange to have scenes with Frances Conroy!!!!

I want to bottle all of this high-energy happiness and save some of it for later. But for now let's refresh ourselves on where we last saw Lange's beloved character Constance Langdon.

AHS: Apocalypse Revealed And Retconned Constance's Death

While it's unclear at the moment whether or not Jessica Lange will be portraying any of her other American Horror Story characters, the image above makes it clear that Constance is back, so we'll keep the focus on her for now.

In the OG season of Murder House, we learned that Constance was the mother of Evan Peters' Tate and the attic-bound Bartholomew, and the season ended with her as the grandmotherly guardian of Michael, the antichrist baby that Vivien Harmon died giving birth to (after being impregnated by Tate's ghost). Just your average cable drama plot is all.

Seven seasons later, Apocalypse gave us the follow-up story that said grandchild (Michael Langdon) grew up to indeed be the destroyer of worlds, as portrayed by Cody Fern. A flashback showed that an Constance, overwhelmed by Michael's horrific and corpse-amassing actions, committed suicide within Murder House to spend enternity with her children.

Only that didn't quite happen, as Billie Lourd's Mallory used her witchy time magic to go back to 2015 to arrange Michael's death via vehicle before he attained full strength. Though he begged Constance to take him into the house so that his spirit could live on, she refused, and went on to survive beyond the point when her suicide would have happened.

Considering Season 13 shows her still inside that haunted home, one can assume she's still keen on staying near her ghostly children. But what has she been up to since Michael's death in 2015, and why would this new season have the need to return to Murder House?

It's Time To Break Out My Infantata Wishes Again

At least once per each American Horror Story season, there's a moment where I allow my brain to go off half-cocked with the notion that Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk could possibly bring back one of this anthology's most haunting creations: the Infantata! Or, if you're into non-monstrous monikers, Thaddeus Montgomery!

As we all hopefully know, Thaddeus was child of Nora and Charles Montgomery who was kidnapped and murdered (a la the Lindbergh baby) and then sent back to his parents in pieces. Charles brought those pieces back together and injected new life into it, though the being that returned was not their loving little baby, and was more bloodthirsty than all that.

Despite only appearing for a handful of quick flashes in Season 1, the Infantata quickly became a fan-favorite monster within this world, all the more so due to his non-ghostly-but-still-undead nature, mixed with his bloodthirst. Understandably, the character's return has been limited, as original portrayer Ben Woolf passed away in 2015.

However, the ghoulish li'l heathen returned in fine form for American Horror Stories' two-part Rubber(wo)Man episode, where he and the home's other threats kill off the teens bullying Scarlett. A fun return, for sure, but certainly not enough.

Will American Horror Story Season 13 be the one to give the Infantata a bigger storyline? Is it ridiculous to even say those words in that order? Probably so, but I'm still here for it, especially with John Waters in the cast. I've definitely theory-wished for Infantata to return in the past, so I guess I won't be too devastated if it doesn't pan out.

Speaking of the larger cast, Season 13 also marks Sarah Paulson’s return following her justifiable break. Beyond her, Waters and Lange, the cast also includes Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe and Leslie Grossman, with Ariana Grande as the second new addition in the bunch. Stay tuned for release date news!

The American Horror Story franchise has been going strong since back in 2011 with the Murder House season that started it all, and that season is still my favorite out of all those that I've seen so far. Now, with creator Ryan Murphy revealing details about the long-awaited Season 13, the cast list has me convinced that I'm going to need to plan on tuning in after the end of the 2025 TV schedule. Not only are there many big names coming back, but one new cast member is going from Wicked to... well, something probably wicked in a different way!

Among those on the cast list (as revealed on Instagram on Halloween 2025) are several of the AHS cast members to appear in the most seasons. Brace yourself for some very familiar names, and check out who you can expect when American Horror Story comes back:

• Sarah Paulson
• Evan Peters
• Kathy Bates
• Jessica Lange
• Emma Roberts
• Angela Bassett
• Billie Lourd
• Gabourey Sidibe
• Leslie Grossman
• Ariana Grande

While there are a lot of names to be excited about, there's a reason why the comment section is largely full of fans freaking out about Jessica Lange. After starring in the first four seasons, Lange hasn't returned to AHS for more than a guest role since 2015. (There are also plenty of people excited about Ariana Grande, with the news breaking less than a month before the arrival of Wicked: For Good in the 2025 movie release schedule.)

There reveals came with "I'll Be Seeing You" by Vera Lynn playing, and I've found Vera Lynn songs to be fun when paired with horror ever since "We'll Meet Again" was effectively used in Stranger Things. There was some bad news to go with the thrills of the cast list, though, as the video confirmed that Season 13 will premiere on Halloween... in 2026. With AHS Season 12 wrapping back in April 2024, that will mean more than two full years without any new episodes. Take a look:

As noted, a lot of the fans commenting on the video are sharing their excitement about Jessica Lange and Ariana Grande, and one person caught the AHS: Coven reference of the iconic "Surprise, bitch, I bet you thought you'd seen the last of me." That line has been heavily memed since Billie Lourd dropped it in her role as Madison Montgomery in Season 3. Interestingly, both Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett are also currently starring on network TV shows, with CBS' Matlock for Bates and ABC's 9-1-1 for Bassett.

At least one person was celebrating that Kim Kardashian won't be part of the cast despite her doing well enough in Season 12 when she channeled sister Kourtney Kardashian. Ryan Murphy was impressed enough by the reality star's turn as a scripted actress that he cast her in All's Fair, which premieres with a stacked cast on Tuesday, November 4 for anybody with a Hulu subscription.

With AHS Season 13 not premiering for another year, fans might be in for a long wait until more details emerge beyond the cast list. That said, those actors are interesting enough that I may use the next year to catch up on the American Horror Stories seasons I've missed over the years. After all, even though AHS is an anthology, it pays to see the actors playing different roles time and again.

American Horror Story is one of those shows that has run for some time, and over that timeframe, there have been many stories, characters, and so much more – and I’ve been there to see it all.

The Ryan Murphy-created series has had twelve seasons that have taken place in a multitude of different locations. The cast has always changed, bringing in new actors and characters for each story. But, there are several actors for this anthology series who have been in many seasons, which is what we’ll be going over today.

Evan Peters (9)

There are a few people I instantly think of when American Horror Story pops up in my mind, and one of them is Evan Peters.

The actor has been making even more of a name for himself the last few years, starring in shows such as Dahmer, where he was praised for his performance for Jeffrey Dahmer, as well as being a major part of the Mare of Easttown cast, which led to him winning an Emmy.

Believe it or not, Peters has been in nine seasons of AHS. This includes Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, Roanoke, Cult, Apocalypse and Double Feature. He’s arguably one of the most known names from this series, and for good reason – his acting has always been fantastic.

Sarah Paulson (9)

The next person I always think of when it comes to this show is Sarah Paulson. There’s plenty to watch if you love Sarah Paulson, but she’s also appeared in nine seasons like Peters. Her seasons are Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, Roanoke, Cult, Apocalypse, and Double Feature.

It’s been some time since we’ve seen either of these two actors in a season, but maybe, in the future, we just might be able to see them return.

Lily Rabe (9)

Lily Rabe is another actress who has been in many seasons of American Horror Story – nine to be exact, just like Paulson and Peters. Her seasons are Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, Roanoke, Apocalypse, 1984, and Double Feature.

Rabe has also appeared in a few other projects, including her part in the Love & Death cast and in Presumed Innocent in 2024, but I always loved her in AHS.

Francis Conroy (8)

Francis Conroy is another actor who's been in the show since the very first season. Her seasons are Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, Roanoke, Cult, Apocalypse, and Double Feature.

My personal favorite season of hers was Coven. There’s just something about her playing Myrtle Snow that always makes me love her even more. It’s also been a few years since we have seen her in the show, so hopefully she'll return before much longer.

Denis O’Hare (8)

The next actor on this list that we’re going to talk about is Denis O’Hare, who has been in a total of eight seasons. O’Hare has played a variety of roles across his seasons so far, which are Murder House, Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, Roanoke, Double Feature, NYC, and Delicate.

O’Hare was also a part of the Season 2 cast of American Horror Stories, another Murphy-created show, so it’s clear that he’s a pretty big mainstay in the series.

Emma Roberts (6)

Emma Roberts is the first actress on this list that wasn’t featured in the first season, but her characters have certainly made an impact on AHS. Roberts has appeared in a total of six aired seasons so far.

These are Coven, Freak Show, Cult, Apocalypse, 1984 and Delicate. Personally, I have always loved Roberts in this show. While it’s awesome that she has been doing her own thing and appearing in many small horror films, such as Nerve, it’s great to see her in the latest seasons.

Billie Lourd (6)

Billie Lourd was another actress who didn’t start appearing in American Horror Story until much later on, but is steadily becoming one of the most reliable actresses for the series.

Her parts in the show include seasons such as Cult, Apocalypse, 1984, Double Feature, NYC and Delicate. making her overall total so far as five. Lourd, in my eyes, is becoming another awesome Scream Queen.

Leslie Grossman (6)

Leslie Grossman also came a little later in AHS’s lifespan, but her characters have truly made a serious impact, from some that you literally hate more than anything to characters that are truly sinister.

Grossman’s appearances are in Cult, Apocalypse, 1984, Double Feature, NYC and Delicate.

Adina Porter (5)

Porter is one of those actresses who has been around since the beginning, but she had such a long hiatus from the series that you wouldn’t have ever expected to see her again.

She first appeared in Murder House way back in 2011, but then didn’t appear again in the series until Roanoke. She had parts in two later seasons – Cult and Apocalypse, and then also appeared in Double Feature.

Kathy Bates (5)

I honestly think Kathy Bates has become another queen of horror since she had such an iconic role in Misery back in the 1990s – and truthfully, there have been so many amazing Kathy Bates movies since then. But, believe it or not, I was actually first introduced to Bates in American Horror Story, way back when I was a wee little girl.

Alright, well, maybe not little, but a teenager. Either way, Bates has appeared in a total of five seasons: Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, Roanoke, and Apocalypse. Truthfully, she’s one of the few actors from the earlier seasons that I miss the most, because she was always a force on screen, but I suppose I can just return to older seasons to watch her.

Jamie Brewer (5)

Jamie Brewer’s characters were always the ones that I genuinely loved the heck out of, because they are either incredibly creepy or some of the sweetest people ever – talk about a spectacular range. Brewer has appeared in a total of five seasons.

These are Murder House, Coven, Freak Show, Cult and Apocalypse. She also appeared on American Horror Stories, but what I wouldn’t give to see her again in the new season. I always loved watching her on screen, no matter what role she performed.

Finn Wittrock (5)

Finn Wittrock is one of those actors that truly made a mark when he was on the show. He is, yet again, one of the few on this list who was not in the original season (Murder House), but his characters in American Horror Story have truly become legends of their own, and his seasons are some of the best.

Wittrock has appeared in a total of five seasons: Freak Show, Hotel, Roanoke, 1984, and Double Feature.

Jessica Lange (5)

Another actress that I believe everyone thinks of when it comes to American Horror Story is Jessica Lange. While she was only in five seasons, Lange was arguably the main character of the first four seasons, creating very compelling stories and giving performances that truly rocked the world of television horror.

The actress is a legend who has been in many movies and television shows throughout her decades in the industry, but her time in AHS will always be remembered as great. Her seasons are Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, and Apocalypse. While I doubt we’re going to see Lange in another, it’s always incredible to revisit some of the best seasons of the show with her performance in them.

Angela Bassett (5)

Last, but not least, we need to talk about Angela Bassett. The actress has been swimming in movies the last few years, becoming a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and even earning a historic Academy Award nomination for her role in it. There are so many awesome Angela Bassett movies from earlier in her career, like Vampire in Brooklyn, Waiting to Exhale, Malcolm X, and many more.

Bassett had pretty big roles for five seasons (Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, Cult, and Apocalypse), where she played a few characters that I still think about to this day. While she may have only been in a handful of seasons, she truly made her mark on the show, and I miss her dearly.

With so many incredible actors, it’s not that surprising to see how many have appeared in multiple seasons of the series. While Season 13 is confirmed, we don’t know who the actors that are coming back will be, but we’ll be sure to update this when that’s confirmed. I’ll just go back and rewatch some of the older seasons to relive the glory days.

Unfortunately, it’s well-documented that Hollywood has a tendency to be sexist and ageist as told by various women in the industry over the years. As we continue to observe Women’s History Month this year, we’re looking at the actresses across movies and television currently working today that have carved out a place for themselves despite the status quo favoring younger actresses, whilst it's the norm for the male actors to enjoy careers well into their 60s, 70s and beyond. 

It was reported a few years back by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media that while characters over 50 make up a fifth of characters on television, only a fourth of them are played by women (via Buzzfeed). With that in mind, there’s a gender gap with opportunities being favored for older men much more than women. Thankfully, these actresses have found a way to thrive in Hollywood after turning 50.  

Michelle Yeoh 

Recently, at the 2023 Oscars, the ceremony actually celebrated numerous actresses that are thriving after 50, including Best Actress winner, Michelle Yeoh. The Everything Everywhere All At Once lead accepted the award not only as the first Asian actress to win in the category, but as a “beacon” of hope for more women her age to be seen in major roles. As she accepted the trophy, she said: "Ladies, don't let anybody tell you you are past your prime." 

Yeoh has been over 50 in Hollywood for over a decade now, and is enjoying an exciting era in her career by finding key roles in successful movies like Crazy Rich Asians and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, or finding empowering roles in recent TV series like Star Trek: Discovery and The Witcher: Blood Origin. 

Jamie Lee Curtis

Yeoh’s Everything Everywhere co-star Jamie Lee Curtis also took home an Oscar for the movie in the Best Supporting Actress category after over 45 years working in Hollywood. Curtis was a teenager when she found her breakout role in Halloween, but decade after decade she has continued to be cast in exciting roles, especially after turning 50. In Curtis’ fifties and sixties the actress has revived her role as Laurie Strode in a new Halloween trilogy, starred in Knives Out and has a wealth of roles on the horizon, including Borderlands and Haunted Mansion. 

Angela Bassett 

Curtis’ fellow nominee in the Best Supporting Actress category in 2023 was Angela Bassett, for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, who also remains a working icon into her mid-sixties. Aside from starring as Queen Ramonda in the Marvel franchise, the actress continues to lead the network series 9-1-1 along with appearing in multiple seasons of American Horror Story and recently being part of the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Helen Mirren

One of the most iconic actresses to consistently nab interesting roles for herself following turning 50 is Helen Mirren. The British talent hit the milestone in 1995, before she’d made some of her most beloved and best movies, like 2001’s Gosford Park, 2003’s Calendar Girls or her 2006 Oscar-winning performance in The Queen. Mirren has continued to play leading roles in the past decade, such as starring in the Red films, her incredible role in the Fast and the Furious movies along with leading 1923 and Shazam! Fury of the Gods within the past year. 

Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin

While I could certainly talk about Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in their own right, the fact that this pair got themselves their own hit comedy series, Grace and Frankie, in their late seventies (across seven seasons, no less) deserves to be celebrated. These two have modeled, brought life to and joked about the lives of older women who are best friends, and we’re so blessed it exists. The pair hit 50 in the late ‘80s and thrived, remaining booked and busy. Among the 2023 new movie releases, they are in back-to-back movies together, too, 80 For Brady and Moving On. 

Rita Moreno

One of Rita Moreno’s first roles was in 1952’s Singin’ in the Rain. Seventy years later her career is still very much popping, between starring in Netflix’s sitcom, One Day At A Time, and voicing the role of Carmen Sandiego for the original animated series. This year, Moreno also starred in 80 For Brady and has joined the Fast and the Furious franchise as Dominic Toretto’s grandma. 

Sally Field

Speaking of 80 For Brady leads, Sally Field has continued to remain relevant and very much respected in Hollywood at the age of 76. From being nominated for an Oscar for her role in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln to bringing new life to Aunt May in The Amazing Spider-Man movies, or starring in critically acclaimed movies like Hello, My Name Is Doris and Spoiler Alert, Field has continued to impress after a massive first half of her career. 

Emma Thompson

In the nearly 15 years that Emma Thompson has been over 50, she has accomplished a lot. She gave a powerful performance as P.L. Travers in the sweet Saving Mr. Banks' movie alongside Tom Hanks, she gave Cruella a formidable foe of her own in the titular 2021 Disney prequel, and tackled the usually taboo topic of exploring sexuality past one’s “prime” and filmed nude scenes for Good Luck To You, Leo Grande. 

Ming-Na Wen

When Ming-Na Wen turned 50 back in 2013, she was just getting her start playing Melinda May on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, a badass and highly-skilled operative she continued to play for over 100 episodes. Since finding success with that series, which is now her most famous role outside Mulan, Wen has joined the Star Wars universe as Fennec Shand, a female bounty hunter and master assassin. 

Catherine O’Hara

Catherine O’Hara is well-known to an entirely new generation than those who grew up seeing her in movies like Best In Show, Beetlejuice or Home Alone, thanks to her beloved role in Schitt’s Creek as Moira Rose. O’Hara will go down in history as playing one of the funniest TV characters in a big role she found well after 50. 

Jane Lynch

Jane Lynch booked her most popular role of Sue Sylvester on Glee right as she was turning 50 and played the character for six seasons before finding all sorts of work in showbiz otherwise. She notably voices the role of Calhoun in the Wreck-It Ralph movies, along with having major roles in the hit shows The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Party Down and with hosting 75 episodes of the original celebrity game show, Celebrity Game Night. 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

The Seinfeld star not only found herself a whole other well-loved TV show to lead and produce after 50 with HBO’s Veep, which she also won nine consecutive Emmy awards for, but she’s a major player in the Marvel universe now. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been consistently quick on her feet on the comedy front and proved to be an impressive dramatic actress as well, with roles in films like Enough Said. 

Jennifer Coolidge

Then, there’s Jennifer Coolidge’s recent comeback for The White Lotus that has the actress literally everywhere right now. Along with the 61-year-old recently winning her first Emmy for her hilarious role as Tanya McQuoid, Coolidge has had loads of projects she has stolen the show in, in the past couple of years in particular, like Promising Young Woman, The Watcher and Shotgun Wedding alongside Jennifer Lopez.

Jessica Lange 

Four decades after Jessica Lange became a star for roles like her Oscar-nominated work in Tootsie and Frances, she is still a huge name, particularly thanks to her move to TV in collaboration with Ryan Murphy on his numerous shows. Lange always provides strong performances in her ever-changing American Horror Story roles, along with portraying Joan Crawford in Feud. 

Allison Janney 

Allison Janney is another actress who got wide recognition for being in one of the best-regarded TV shows of all time, The West Wing. After starring in 155 episodes of the drama, Janney has continued to explore all sorts of interesting characters across her career, especially after 50, whether it be in the sitcom Mom, winning an Oscar for her chilling mother role in I, Tonya or her booked 2022 that put an additional three movies under her belt. Janney is even more famous now than she was when she was a younger actress. 

Julianne Moore 

A new role from Julianne Moore is never too far away these days. The 62-year-old actress has accomplished a lot over 50 and has even been in with the kids because of her key role in the Hunger Games franchise or starring alongside Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard in the recent indie, When You Finish Saving the World. Moore has starred in so many great movies just within the past decade that it can be hard to recall she’s also the same actress from Boogie Nights and Far From Heaven. 

Tilda Swinton 

We don’t have enough female character actors in the world, but Tilda Swinton embodies someone new so frequently that we can barely imagine what she’s like in real life. The majority of Swinton’s best roles have occurred since she turned 50, such as We Need To Talk About Kevin, or her numerous times working with Wes Anderson and Bong Joon-Ho. 

Viola Davis

Viola Davis is one of the most acclaimed actors of our time right now and it feels like she’s also just getting started. Recently, the actress did just about every stunt as a warrior and leader in The Woman King and has become the most-nominated Black actress in Academy Awards history. 

Meryl Streep 

I mean, it’s Meryl. What else do we have to say? The 73-year-old actress has always been magnificent on screen no matter her age and has proven her great talent and ability to be a chameleon on the screen again and again. Since turning 50, Streep has starred in all-time great movies like The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia, and Iron Lady, and looking forward, she's about to guest star in Only Murders In the Building. 

It’s great to see so many women have broken through and found roles for themselves after 50 in the industry. It really comes down to great roles being written for women of all ages for their opportunities to exist. 

Ryan Murphy is one of the most notable television producers working today. He is the mastermind behind FOX's Glee, 9-1-1, and Scream Queens, and has produced a number of series for FX, including American Horror Story and American Crime Story, as well as Pose. In 2018, Murphy signed a $300 million deal with Netflix that resulted in a number of successful shows for the streamer, like The Politician, Ratched, and most recently Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and The Watcher. The latter two are a couple of the most popular series streaming right now.

There are several reasons for Murphy's success, including genre-bending entertainment, kooky characters, and outlandish storytelling that always intrigues. However, many cite his casts and frequent collaborators for tending to elevate the material. Here is a list of some of the most frequent and reliable collaborators who Murphy relies on for his fan-favorite television series.

Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson seems to find her way into almost every Ryan Murphy-produced endeavor. She has played a variety of characters on almost every season of American Horror Story, excluding Season 9, 1984. Her roles on the anthology series have ranged from a starring role as Ana Winters in Asylum and Roanoke, to a guest appearance in Murder House. 

She also starred in the hit Netflix show, Ratched, and American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson, for which she won an Emmy for playing lawyer Marcia Clark. In addition, Paulson played supporting roles in Feud: Bette and Joan, and American Crime Story: Impeachment, for which she received yet another Emmy nomination. The actress has collaborated with Murphy since the very beginning, when she played a guest role on Nip/Tuck. 

Evan Peters

Evan Peters is yet another darling of Murphy's. He has starred in nine seasons of American Horror Story, only excluding 1984 and New York City. Like Paulson, Peters' AHS roles have ranged from centerpiece characters like Tate from Murder House, to more experimental seasons like Cult and Apocalypse where the actor has portrayed multiple characters throughout. 

He also acted as a producer for the Double Feature season. In addition to AHS, Peters plays Stan Bowes, a member of the Trump Organization on the FX series, Pose.  Most notably, he plays the titular role in Netflix's Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. 

Darren Criss

Darren Criss has been a Murphy favorite since his Glee performance as Blaine, the a cappella-singing love interest to Chris Colfer's Kurt. He switched things up by following that with The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, where he played the leading role, serial killer Andrew Cunanan. His performance was critically acclaimed and he swept the awards' circuit. He went on to work with Murphy again in Hollywood. In addition, Criss guest starred in an episode of AHS: Hotel.

Jessica Lange

Jessica Lange is yet another favorite. The Oscar winning actress has participated in five seasons of American Horror Story, most notably, Murder House, Coven, Freak Show, and Asylum, and makes a guest appearance in Apocalypse. She also had a starring role in FX's Feud: Bette and Joan, where she played Joan Crawford. In addition, Lange plays the cunning grandmother to Zoey Deutch in The Politician. She is also set to star in another Murphy-led project about Marlene Dietrich for Netflix, so even if she's done with AHS, there is more Lange/Murphy to come. 

Emma Roberts

Nothing says Ryan Murphy like Emma Roberts, who is yet another American Horror Story alum. She participated in five seasons of the FX show, including Coven, Freak Show, Apocalypse, and 1984, while also making a single episode appearance in Cult. In addition, Roberts was the lead in the sorority horror show, Scream Queens, which ran for three seasons. 

Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates is yet another Oscar winner who caught Murphy's eye. The Misery actress starred in five seasons of American Horror Story, including her iconic, bone-chilling character in Coven, for which she won an Emmy, and the fan-favorite evil concierge, Iris, in Hotel. Bates also continued her collaboration by playing Joan Blondell in Feud: Bette and Joan.

Dylan McDermott

Dylan McDermott is another familiar face for Murphy fans. The actor is one of the original stars of American Horror Story, and participated in five seasons, including AHS: Asylum. He is best known for his performance as the father of a problematic family in Murder House, which the season is centered around. He also plays a scandalous gas-station owner in the Murphy-produced Hollywood and makes an appearance in Netflix's The Politician.

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett is another favorite of the creator's. She is the star of FOX's 9-1-1, where she plays the badass Athena Grant. She has also made an appearance on the spin-off show, 9-1-1: Lone Star. In addition, Basset has been in a grand total of five seasons of American Horror Story. Most notably, in Coven, she portrays a fictionalized version Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. She reprised the role for Apocalypse. 

Finn Wittrock

Finn Wittrock has found his way into numerous Murphy projects, including five seasons of American Horror Story. He made his AHS debut in Freak Show, where his incredibly disturbed character earned him an Emmy nomination. He has gone on to appear in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story and Netflix's Ratched. In addition, he plays a supporting role in the Murphy-directed television film, The Normal Heart. 

Patti LuPone

Nobody loves Broadway like Murphy, so it makes sense that Patti LuPone would be featured in many of his projects. LuPone participated in two seasons of American Horror Story, Coven and NYC, as well as more glamorous roles in Pose and Hollywood. The Broadway legend also makes a cameo appearance in Glee, where she plays herself.  

Matt Bomer

Who doesn't love Matt Bomer? Ryan Murphy sure does. The White Collar star has made a number of appearances in the showrunner's projects, including three seasons of American Horror Story. He had small roles in Freak Show and Stories, and most notably had a major role as Lady Gaga's lover in Hotel. Bomer has a major role in The Normal Heart and Boys in the Band, and makes brief appearances in The New Normal and Glee. He also got behind the camera, directing an episode of American Crime Story: Versace. 

Leslie Grossman

Leslie Grossman has worked with Ryan Murphy since the early days of Nip/Tuck. The actress had minor roles in his short-lived series, Popular, and The New Normal, and additionally starred in five seasons of American Horror Story, and has had leading roles in every season she's been in. She continues to be apart of the show, and was a definite stand out in the Season 11 cast.

Jim Parsons

When Jim Parsons left The Big Bang Theory, he made it a point to work with Ryan Murphy. The actor has had starring roles in films like The Boys in the Band and The Normal Heart, and plays the predatory manager to Rock Hudson in Netflix's Hollywood. The role was something very different for Parsons, but Murphy has a talent for drawing out performances from actors playing against type. 

Billie Lourd

Billie Lourd is another young actress Murphy has taken under his wing. The Star Wars actress started her collaboration with the producer in Scream Queens, where she played one of the killer sorority girls. She subsequently starred in six seasons of American Horror Story, playing a main role in most, including NYC, the most recent season. 

Connie Britton

Before The White Lotus, Connie Britton was a staple in the Ryan Murphy Universe. She is most known for her performance as Vivien Harmon in Murder House, a role she reprised in Apocalypse that landed her an Emmy nomination. She was also a fan favorite in 9-1-1, where she played a 911 operator. In addition, she played Faye Resnick, a friend of Nicole Brown Simpson in The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. 

Lea Michele

Some would say Ryan Murphy made Lea Michele a star when he cast her as Rachel Berry in the musical teen comedy, Glee. She became one of the most recognizable stars from the show, and the role earned her both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. She also dawned a neck brace as an unconventional sorority girl in Scream Queens. 

Clearly Murphy has his favorites, and continues to work with the same reliable, talented actors in order to make his projects as binge-worthy as possible. Other notable collaborators include stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Frances Conroy, Lily Rabe, Adina Porter, Cheyenne Jackson, Neil Patrick Harris, Jane Lynch, and John Stamos. For more information on where to check out some of these iconic projects from these iconic stars, make sure to check out our Ryan Murphy streaming guide, as well as the 2023 TV premiere dates.

In December 2003, audiences around the world were introduced to the fantastical story and over-the-top characters of Big Fish. What some will call the best Tim Burton movie, this fantasy dramedy about a man learning to appreciate his father and his form of storytelling before it’s too late, features some of the best actors of the time and continues to enchant viewers of all ages.

But, nearly 20 years have past since we first watched a man catch a catfish with a wedding ring, visit an idyllic town hidden in the forest, and change the lives of countless people, and it’s safe to say you are probably wondering what the Big Fish cast is up to. Here is the answer to your question…

Ewan McGregor (Young Edward Bloom)

In Big Fish, Ewan McGregor plays the younger version of the Edward Bloom, the charismatic storyteller whose life journey was the stuff of legend. Already a major force in Hollywood by the time he worked with Tim Burton in the fantastical drama (the movie came out just one year after the release of Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones), McGregor has only become a bigger star in the years following its release.

All in the last five years, Ewan McGregor has appeared on Fargo, continued his globe-trotting motorcycle adventure docuseries with Long Way Up, and portrayed a grown-up Danny Torrance in Doctor Sleep. McGregor will return to the “galaxy far, far away” when he leads the upcoming Disney+ series, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Albert Finney (Old Edward Bloom)

The beloved legend of film, television, and the theatre, Albert Finney, took on the role of the older version of Edward Bloom in Big Fish, and brought with him decades of experience. The two-time Golden Globe winner continued to show up in movies like Ocean’s Twelve, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Skyfall before stepping away from acting in 2012. Finney passed away in February 2019 at the age of 82.

Billy Crudup (Will Bloom)

Taking on the role of Will Bloom in the Big Fish cast is Billy Crudup. In the years since playing the once-dismissive son of Edward Bloom, Crudup has gone on to appear in movies like Spotlight, Where’d You Go, Bernadette, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (he previously worked with the director for Watchmen). 

Billy Crudup received a great deal of praise for his portrayal of Cory Ellison on the Apple TV+ original series The Morning Show, including a Primetime Emmy and Critics Choice Award in 2020.

Jessica Lange (Sandra Bloom)

Two-time Academy Award winner Jessica Lange portrays Sandra Bloom through much of Big Fish. The star of movies like Tootsie, Blue Sky, and Cape Fear, Lange has continued to appear on the big screen in recent years with movies like The Gambler, Wild Oats, and the upcoming Marlowe.

Over the course of the past decade, Jessica Lange has been a major player on the FX horror anthology series, American Horror Story, appearing on five of the show’s seasons since its debut in 2011. 

Alison Lohman (Sandra Bloom)

Alison Lohman, who broke out with her role in the 2002 drama, White Oleander, portrays the younger version of Sandra Bloom in Big Fish. Lohman followed up the Tim Burton film with movies like Matchstick Men, Beowulf, and Drag Me To Hell through the first decade of the 21st Century.

Upon stepping away from professional acting after marrying filmmaker Mark Neveldine in 2009, Alison Lohman began to spend her time raising her children, as well as serving as an online acting coach, a service she continues to offer to this day.

Marion Cotillard (Joséphine)

Marion Cotillard was already a sensation in her native France but started to break through with American audiences with her take on the character Joséphine Bloom in Big Fish. In the years following the film’s release, Cotillard appeared in Inception, Contagion, The Dark Knight Rises, and Macbeth, to name only a few.

More recently, Marion Cotillard has appeared in movies like Dolittle and Annette, and will soon join the star-studded cast of the Apple TV+ anthology series Extrapolations.

Helena Bonham Carter (Jenny/The Witch)

Helena Bonham Carter takes on two roles in Big Fish: Spectre resident Jenny and the Witch who showed a young Edward Bloom how he would die. In the years following the film’s release, Bonham Carter went on to land the role of Bellatrix Lestrange in the final four Harry Potter movies, and work more recently in Ocean’s 8 and Enola Holmes.

The versatile actress also found success on television, with one her most notable performances being that of Princes Margaret on the third and fourth seasons of The Crown. Helena Bonham Carter appeared on the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special in early 2022, where she had a memorable encounter with Daniel Radcliffe.

Danny DeVito (Amos Calloway)

Amos Calloway, the circus ringmaster (and werewolf) in Big Fish, is portrayed by the versatile Danny DeVito. The Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award winner has an extensive filmography to say the very least, including a great number of film and television appearances in recent years.

One of the leads of long-running comedy It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which released its 15th season in late 2021, Danny DeVito has appeared in movies like Dumbo, Jumanji: The Next Level, and The One and Only Ivan over the past few years, with more movies on the way, like Haunted Mansion and Sniff.

Robert Guillaume (Dr. Bennett)

The late Robert Guillaume appeared as one of the major supporting characters, Dr. Bennett, in Big Fish. The Primetime Emmy and Tony Award winner passed away in October 2017 at the age of 89, per Deadline, leaving behind a legacy in film, television, and theatre. His list of credits range from the sitcom Soap to Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night and the 1994 animated smash hit, The Lion King, and even the 2004 video game, Half-Life 2.

Matthew McGrory (Karl The Giant)

Matthew McGrory portrayed the gentle and misunderstood Karl the Giant in Big Fish, which was a far stretch from the characters the actor played before and after. Due to his large stature, McGrory worked in mostly horror movies like House of 1000 Corpses and The Devils Rejects, and fantasy shows like Charmed and Carnivale. Saddly, McGrory passed away in August 2005 at the age of 32, according to the New York Times.

Steve Buscemi (Norther Winslow)

Taking on the role of the poet-turned-millionaire Norther Winslow in Big Fish is Steve Buscemi. One of the best character actors by the time he appeared in Tim Burton’s beloved classic, Buscemi has continued to find success in just about everything he does, whether it's as an actor or director.

Since 2019, Steve Buscemi has had one of the lead roles on the TBS anthology comedy series Miracle Workers, has appeared on Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?, and even showed up on an episode of Rick and Morty. He will next appear in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.

Ada Tai and Arlene Tai (Ping and Jing)

Sisters Ada and Arlene Tai appear in Big Fish as the conjoined twins Ping and Jing, but unlike their characters, they are not physically attached at the hip (though they work extensively together). The sisters last appeared on film in 2014, when they were featured in the short film The First Minute. The sisters currently own and operate the Los Angeles-based interior design company A&A Design Firm.

Loudon Wainwright III (Beamen)

Taking on the role of Spectre mayor, Beamen, in Big Fish is Loudon Wainwright III, the accomplished singer-songwriter who has also made several appearances in movies and television shows throughout his career. His most recent acting credit was the 2018 murder mystery series Mosaic, though he continues to release music, like the 2020 studio album I’d Rather Lead a Band.

David Denman (Don Price)

Don Price, Edward Bloom’s friend-turned-enemy in Big Fish, is played by David Denman, who most will recognize as the despicable Roy Anderson on The Office. Denman continues to be busy in Hollywood with movies like Brighburn and Greenland both having been released in the past few years. In 2021, Denman was featured in the main cast of the HBO dramatic limited series, Mare of Easttown.

Deep Roy (Mr. Soggybottom)

Taking on the role of Amos Calloway’s assistant and most-trusted friend, Mr. Soggybottom, in Big Fish is Deep Roy. The actor, stuntman, and puppeteer has appeared in dozens of movies over the years, including Star Trek, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Hook, and even Return of the Jedi. Roy’s most recent feature film appearance was in 2016’s Star Trek Beyond, though he does stay rather busy with his booming Tik Tok account.

Missi Pyle (Mildred)

Missi Pyle appears in Big Fish as Mildred, one of the residents of Spectre who had an impact on Edward Bloom. Throughout her career, Pyle has made appearances on shows like Drunk History, Dirty John, and most recently, Y: The Last Man. Her most recent movie appearance was in the 2019 psychological drama Ma.

Well, hopefully this helps you make sense of the massive Big Fish cast. And, who knows, maybe we’ll see those familiar faces in some of the upcoming 2022 new movie releases.

Jessica Lange has revealed that she is not planning on making an American Horror Story return for 1984. Sad news for fans that were hoping to see Lange potentially put in an appearance on the series’ latest installment! American Horror Story has made its return with the slasher-inspired 1984. It is the series’ theory-provoking ninth season.

It is the first season to arrive since Jessica Lange made her long-awaited return to American Horror Story in Season 8. To date, Apocalypse marks her latest appearance in the franchise. In that season, she reprised her role as Constance Langdon, a.k.a. her character from the series’ first season, Murder House. What has Jessica Lange reluctant to return to American Horror Story?

One of the understandable reasons the American Horror Story veteran gives is the possible absence of the co-stars that she has worked with before. Of returning for 1984, Jessica Lange told The Wrap:

For 1984, American Horror Story is going without many of its usual stars. It does star anthology veteran and previous Lange co-star, Emma Roberts, in a lead role. So, not every American Horror Story regular is missing. However, Evan Peters is not returning to the franchise for the first time.

Jessica Lange shared that she did not know who would be starring in the ninth season. If she did participate, it seems that she believes she would not be sharing the screen with some of her fellow American Horror Story veterans.

Jessica Lange named Sarah Paulson, Frances Conroy, and Kathy Bates among those she loved working with. Presumably, she does not foresee the potential of working with them in 1984.

It is not the first time that Jessica Lange has stepped away from the series. She previously departed after Season 4. Fans remained hopeful Lange would eventually make her way back with hope rising in Season 6 and subsequent seasons. It was not until Season 8 that she ultimately returned.

Jessica Lange’s brief return to the American Horror Story universe for Apocalypse was not a sign that she would be back for good. That does not mean there will not be connections between past and present for long-time fans to look for in the current season. There is already some crossover action happening between the FX series’ previous seasons and 1984.

As for Jessica Lange, Ryan Murphy series are still a part of her life. Lange is set to star in Murphy’s soon-to-be-released Netflix series The Politician. The good news is that with what Lange is saying regarding 1984, it does not sound like she is ruling out a return to American Horror Story altogether. Stay tuned!

New episodes of American Horror Story: 1984 air Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on FX. You can watch the seasons of American Horror Story that Jessica Lange does star in via Netflix, along with new content. The new season of the anthology series is part of this fall’s premieres.

American Horror Story is returning soon for its 2019 season. A quick poll first: What is your favorite season of AHS so far? How about least favorite? Jessica Lange was asked to rank the seasons she was in, and she was game to do it, giving some surprising answers.

She was pretty candid about it -- it's not like she has anything to lose, she's Jessica Freakin' Lange -- and admitted one of the two AHS seasons to earn her an Emmy award was at the bottom of her list.

GoldDerby got the conversation stated when one of the editors shared his own personal ranking -- Asylum, Freak Show, Murder House, then the most recent season, Apocalypse. Jessica Lange followed by agreeing with most of his opinion:

The conversation then turned fully to Coven, which I actually loved, but neither Jessica Lange nor the editor seemed to like. Here's more from Lange on Coven:

Well, surprise, bitch on Coven. Jessica Lange won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role as Constance Langdon in the first season, Murder House, and then won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie as Fiona Goode in the 2013 series Coven. I'm surprised to hear she didn't like the story they were telling with Coven. I loved it, and the loved the later crossover with Apocalypse, which I partially liked as a full season.

It all started with Murder House, though, and if that first season in 2011 hadn't been a hit, nothing would've followed. I can't see putting Constance third on any list. What about Asylum? Would you put that first?

American Horror Story: Coven and Freak Show have been the most-watched AHS seasons so far on FX. That said, Freak Show rarely ever ranks high on fans' list of best seasons, like CinemaBlend's own raking.

American Horror Story: 1984, aka AHS Season 9, is next on the list. As the title suggests, it's going to be heavily influenced by 1980s classic horror slasher films.

AHS regular Emma Roberts will star in Season 9 alongside newcomer Gus Kenworthy. Billie Lourd, Cody Fern, Leslie Grossman, and John Carroll Lynch are also returning, along with more newcomers like Glee's Matthew Morrison.

Billie Lourd Says American Horror Story Saved Her Life After Mom Carrie Fisher Died

Sarah Paulson will return for a smaller role in AHS Season 9, and Evan Peters won't be in AHS: 1984 at all. Jessica Lange won't be in the new season either, it appears, but she is appearing in Ryan Murphy's new Netflix series The Politician, which streams September 27.

American Horror Story: 1984 premieres Wednesday, September 18 on FX. And whether Jessica Lange liked them or not, it sounds like the Coven witches will be back in Season 10.

The cast of Ryan Murphy's upcoming Netflix series, The Politician, is continuing to take shape. As it turns out, the streaming show will reunite Murphy with more than one of star from American Horror Story. The great Jessica Lange has officially boarded the political satire.

Details on Jessica Lange's character are scarce. We do know one interesting tidbit about how the role was landed, though, thanks to Barbara Streisand. (Naturally.) As those following the development of The Politician may recall, Streisand was initially attached to star in the series.

Fast forward to now, and it turns out Jessica Lange has officially taken over the role that Barbara Streisand was originally set to play. Streisand made mention of the casting switch in an interview with the New Yorker in early November. Now, the casting news has been confirmed.

In boarding The Politician, Jessica Lange is joining her former American Horror Story co-star Dylan McDermott. The two crossed paths quite a bit in Season 1's Murder House, and also starred in Asylum, to later both appear in the most recent season, Apocalypse.

The actor shared that he plays a con man who has maxed out his credit cards and is living a lie. Dylan McDermott also revealed that his character reaches out to an escort service to find a date to attend an event with him. Afterward, they get married. So there are already some interesting angles to play with in that origin story.

Dylan McDermott himself provided another new casting detail. The actor revealed another star who has joined the ensemble in an interview with Entertainment Weekly Radio: Mad Men's January Jones. Who is she playing?

January Jones will play Dylan McDermott character's wife. Thankfully, the actor also dropped that tidbit about how his and Jones' character met. It's certainly some intriguing insight about the character, which sounds as though it will be a far cry from January Jones' Mad Men character, Betty Draper.

Jessica Lange and January Jones join a cast that already includes the previously announced stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Dear Evan Hansen's Ben Platt. Few exact details are known about other elements The Politician. News about the Netflix project started making the rounds a while ago, and we'll hopefully get more soon now that casting is in full swing.

The Politician is said to focus on a well-off young man from Santa Barbara, who decides its time to dive into politics. The series is part of Ryan Murphy's multi-year deal to produce original content for Netflix, a deal that commenced in July. It's a good sign for fans of his previous work that he's already tapped two American Horror Story vets for this show. Maybe Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters aren't too far behind.

A release date for The Politician has not been set yet. When it does debut, it will do so on Netflix. In the meantime, a lot of new TV content will be available to stream this fall and in the midseason.

American Horror Story is coming back to FX this fall for Season 8 under the subtitle Apocalypse, and creator Ryan Murphy is getting a lot of his previous AHS players back together for this next go-round in hell on Earth. So that we can keep fans up to date on the growing cast of the newest iteration of the popular horror franchise, we have for you now a cast list with all the confirmed actors for American Horror Story: Apocalypse, a tale that will reportedly begin with the end of the world, including new and (thankfully) returning players. Let's get started!

Taissa Farmiga

Taissa Farmiga is quite the familiar face around AHS, with roles so far in the Murder House, Coven and Roanoke seasons of the anthology series. There's no word on who Farmiga will be playing in the new season just yet, but you can probably bet the character will be pretty intriguing.

Gabourey Sidibe

Gabourey Sidibe will also be returning to AHS when Apocalypse debuts on FX this fall. The actress has already appeared in Coven, Freak Show and Hotel, playing the role of Queenie twice.

Lily Rabe

Lily Rabe will be appearing in her seventh season of American Horror Story when Apocalypse comes around in a few months. So far, she's played roles in Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, Hotel and Roanoke, notably portraying shy nun/devil possession vehicle Sister Mary Eunice in two seasons.

Frances Conroy

Season 8 of American Horror Story will welcome actress Frances Conroy back for her seventh role in the franchise. Conroy has previously appeared in Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, Roanoke and Cult.

Stevie Nicks

Witchy woman and acclaimed singer Stevie Nicks will be returning to AHS for the first time since her single appearance as herself in one episode of Coven, during Apocalypse. There's no word on who she'll be playing yet, or if Nicks will bring her signature "magical delights" back to the series this time around.

Kathy Bates

Ready for her fifth season of American Horror Story is Kathy Bates. After taking on amazing roles in Coven, Freak Show, Hotel and Roanoke, she's going to step into the part of Miss Meade for Apocalypse.

Sarah Paulson

Another very recognizable face to AHS fans, Sarah Paulson will be returning to the fold once more when Apocalypse gets underway. The actress is one of the few to have played multiple roles in several of the seasons she's been a part of, with work on Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, Roanoke and Cult under her creepy ass belt. Paulson will tackle multiple parts on this season as well, with her characters revealed as Venable, Cordelia, and Billy Dean.

Evan Peters

American Horror Story: Apocalypse will have another returning member to the ensemble in the form of Evan Peters. He's shown up in the Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, Roanoke and Cult seasons, portraying a whopping seven characters in that last season.

Joan Collins

This completely unexpected new addition to the AHS family was announced a few months ago, with Ryan Murphy letting everyone know that he was planning on "throwing in Joan Collins" when it came to the next installment of the franchise. We have no idea who or what she'll be playing, but I fully expect her to be dripping with jewels as she pushes someone into a pool at some point during the season.

Billie Lourd

Returning for her second major role in the franchise will be a fan favorite from Season 7: Billie Lourd. She'll be playing a character named Mallory in Apocalypse, and you can probably count on her character either being completely batshit or ending up in a batshit situation (or both).

Cody Fern

If you're looking at the young man above and don't recognize him, that's actually because this will be his first time in a season of AHS, though it won't be his character's first time in the franchise. Fern, who appeared in Ryan Murphy's The Assassination of Gianni Versace, will be playing Michael Langdon, the adult version of the antichrist baby birthed by Vivien in Season 1. With a season subtitled Apocalypse, doesn't it make total sense that the antichrist would play a major role?

Adina Porter

After a brief appearance in Murder House, Adina Porter has her first major role with AHS in Roanoke and followed it up with another strong showing in Cult. We now know that Porter's time on Apocalypse will be spent as Diana Stevens, but that's all the info we currently have on her character.

Cheyenne Jackson

Cheyenne Jackson has shown up in Hotel, Roanoke and Cult, and his characters have died every time. Will Apocalypse change his fate? Only time will tell.

Billy Eichner

Billy Eichner will, once again, be gracing AHS with his presence. He lent his talents to Cult last season, where he played two characters, but there's not word yet on the character(s) Eichner will portray this time around.

Leslie Grossman

After portraying two characters in Cult, which was her first time on AHS, Leslie Grossman is returning for Apocalypse. This time around she'll be playing a character named Coco St. Pierre Vanderbilt, who sounds super annoying and like someone we'll all want to be murdered horribly within seconds of meeting her for the first time.

Emma Roberts

Emma Roberts will be returning to the American Horror Story fold as her Coven character, Madison Montgomery, when Apocalypse hits the small screen this year. Roberts also starred in the Freak Show and Cult seasons of the franchise.

Jessica Lange

After some speculation, we now know that Jessica Lange will be back on board to play her Murder House character, Constance Langdon in Apocalypse. Lange has also appeared in the Asylum, Coven and Freak Show seasons.

Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman

Another new addition to the AHS family this season will be Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, who will appear in a guest capacity. Bowyer-Chapman has shown up in Stargate Universe, Warehouse 13, Dirty Grandpa and UnREAL, among other projects.

Kyle Allen

Also new to Apocalypse? Actor Kyle Allen, who is best known for his work as Hawk Lane on Hulu's The Path.

American Horror Story: Apocalypse will debut on FX September 12 at 10 p.m. EST. Be sure to bookmark this list as we'll keep it updated as new information becomes available.

There are a few TV shows that are at the front of the pop culture lexicon. Ryan Murphy's projects on FX are among them, especially his horror anthology series American Horror Story. Murphy's themes for the next few seasons have already been planned, and the fandom is especially excited about the Coven/Murder House crossover season that's coming presumably around Season 8. But with characters from two of the most popular seasons returning, how exactly can it be done without the incomparable Jessica Lange? Murphy isn't so sure, so he is going to try his best to get the legend back on AHS.

Ryan Murphy recently spoke to TV Guide about this highly anticipated crossover season, where he revealed his plan to lure Jessica Lange back into the fold. With money.

Well, that's refreshingly honest. It's true what they say: you can throw money at any problem. Even getting a legendary actress to return to the series she left after its fourth season.

Honestly, it does seem logical that Jessica Lange would return for at least a few appearances in the Coven/Murder House season. Because while she may have left American Horror Story behind her, she's still working very closely with both Ryan Murphy and FX. You can currently catch Lange playing Joan Crawford opposite Susan Sarandon in Feud. Still irreverent and extremely Murphy-esque, Feud presented a change of pace for Lange, rather than a split from the production company. So the right script and paycheck should be able to woo her back to her roots.

If Jessica Lange does return, it should be interesting to see which of her characters end up with the most time on our TV. Smart money is on Constance from Murder House, especially since she was basically the only character to survive the season. While she departed from Los Angeles and the titular house, her adopted son Michael just can't stop killing people. She could really show up anywhere.

Fiona Goode from Coven, however, would only be able to be apart of the series through flashbacks, dream sequences, or if the season is set before the events of Coven. We all know that Fiona (finally) died in the finale episode, allowing her daughter Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) to take her place as the next Supreme. The last we saw of Fiona she was in her own version of hell, thanks to Papa Legba. It's just her and The Axeman for all eternity, in a crappy little shack with no magical abilities.

Alas, we'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes down. Season 7 will run next year before any Coven/Murder House one can occur, so it's going to take some patience.

You can currently catch Feud on FX. To plan your next binge watch, check out our summer premiere list.

Evan Peters wasn't new to acting when he signed on for the first season of American Horror Story, but the anthology series was presumably the first project where one of his characters was showing off any kind of nudity on screen. Perhaps he should have sought out advice on the matter during the production of American Horror Story: Asylum, as he apparently experienced a wardrobe malfunction that had co-star Jessica Lange suffering most of all, thanks to a face-full of Peters' junk. Here's how the actor put it.

Who among us hasn't taken on some product for the first time, only to realize that our instincts in using it were in error? I say, WHO? So judge not Evan Peters for the way he allowed his balls to swing in Jessica Lange's face. Judge the creator of said cock sock for not printing instructions on the material, or perhaps whoever provided the covering for not explicitly laying things out in a detailed diagram. And especially don't judge Jessica Lange, who deserves some major credit for apparently making it through the entire shot without interrupting it. That is professionalism, people.

Evan Peters, who presumably keeps it all sheathed on the set of the X-Men movies, shared his story when he stopped by Conan on TBS, because there are no two people better suited to hear a cock sock tale than Conan O'Brien and Andy Richter. A lot of weird shit has happened over the six-ish years of American Horror Story, and Peters has been in the middle of a lot of them, but I guess this is one of those cases where what's seen on the screen wasn't necessarily the most extreme thing happening. Can we expect Ryan Murphy to create another level of post-modern meta-ness by having André Holland's talking head version Matt Miller accidentally showing someone his nards on American Horror Story: Roanoke? Probably not, but maybe.

Jessica Lange doesn't have to worry about seeing anybody's nether regions on the set of American Horror Story anymore, and that is perhaps the biggest tragedy of all. At least it didn't happen to her in American Horror Story: Coven when Evan Peters was a Franken-dude. Who knows where those tic-tacs would have come from? One can only imagine who will see what on the set of the newly announced seventh season.

Though Evan Peters has yet to show his face on American Horror Story: Roanoke, you can bet that it's coming soon, and you can watch every Wednesday night on FX at 10:00 p.m. ET. To see when everything else is hitting the small screen with genitalia fully covered (at least on most networks), head to our fall TV schedule. Head to the next page to see the actor tell the full story.

Just as it has happened for many years, 2016 will feature the month of October, which means American Horror Story will be supergluing your eyeballs open to take in its shock-tastic next season in full. Something fans have been wondering about is whether or not actress Jessica Lange might choose Season 6 to be the time she returns to the ensemble genre-bender. And while we’re used to getting the hemming and hawing from Hollywood’s elite, the actress had a pretty blunt answer when asked recently by Charlie Rose.

Well damn. She didn’t even finish her sentence before trailing off all smoothly like that. This is just the kind of behavior we’d expect from a former witch, mother of a mass murderer, freak show-operating amputee and vindictive nun. She’s just breaking hearts left and right, and she doesn’t even have the couth to look us in the eye and apologize. Admittedly, that occurrence would be more frightening than anything on American Horror Story last year.

As one of the core characters in Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s anthology series for its first four seasons, Jessica Lange asserted herself as the crass and chain-smoking foundation upon which these torrid stories were built, but then she opted out of returning for Hotel last year. Things looked a little brighter some time later, when Lange wasn’t quite as determined not to make an appearance, but apparently nothing too amazing happened in the interim for her, as she makes it sound like returning to American Horror Story again would just be ludicrous.

Lange’s exit from the hit FX horror allowed Lady Gaga to step in and try her hand at being a leading lady in primetime, winning a Golden Globe for her blood-soaked efforts. Gaga has confirmed she will return for the as-yet-unthemed Season 6, though probably not in a starring role, since the next year will be a big one for her music career. Lange can make these declarations now, but I truly hope it can be worked out so that one season will feature Lady Gaga and Jessica Lange starring opposite one another. Even my goosebumps have goosebumps for that prospect. Or it might just be a rash I got from using Fiona Goode’s Supreme Body Wash.

Check out Jessica Lange dropping the bad news herself in the Charlie Rose clip below.

Lange actually does have another huge TV role coming up, and it’s one that will reconnect her with Ryan Murphy. She’ll star as Joan Crawford alongside Susan Sarandon’s Better Davis in the Hollywood-themed anthology Feud, which will focus on the hectic production of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? That situation might not have had killer clowns or voodoo demons, but it was no less a horror than American Horror Story’s past efforts.

For a while there, it looked like the last time we would see the Emmy-winning Jessica Lange in Ryan Murphy’s television universe was in the season finale of American Horror Story: Freak Show this past January, as the actress publicly stated that she would be opting out of future seasons of the hit FX series. But wait! Now, it looks like the actress has had some second thoughts about those assertions, but don’t get your hopes up for her taking on a leading role.

Lange recently spoke with TheWrap for their upcoming Emmy magazine issue, and she seems to have softened her stance on a possible return to the weird and wild world of American Horror Story. Here’s how she put it.

As weird as it would be to watch a seasonal installment of American Horror Story without Jessica Lange in it, it would almost be as strange to watch it with her just in a bit part for a few episodes. Murphy utilizes a large cadre of actors for AHS, and Lange has largely been the lynch pin holding it all together, and her characters have been a centerpiece for each season’s complication-filled story. She was the all-knowing neighbor in Murder House, the diabolical Sister Jude in Asylum, the vindictively bewitching head of house in Coven and the sideshow captain in Freak Show. I don’t know if I could take her just popping through this next season for a short and largely meaningless late-season arc, as this show is wont to produce.

We don’t really know too much plot-wise about American Horror Story: Hotel, beyond the fact that it’ll take place inside a hotel run by Kathy Bates. Such temporary housing establishments offer plenty of chances for come-and-go characters, so it’s not hard to imagine Lange as a guest that either causes some havoc or has havoc brought to her. Or, as would most likely be the case, a solid mixture of the two.

While much of the casting for American Horror Story: Hotel has been done, it’s not out of the question that Lange will be a late addition. As for as who’s already there, we have lots of series-familiar faces like Sarah Paulson, Denis O’Hare, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Finn Wittrock, Wes Bentley, Matt Bomer and Chloë Sevigny. There will also be a bunch of newbies in the cast, including Cheyenne Jackson, Max Greenfield and Lady Gaga.

Now we’re just waiting to see how well Lange and American Horror Story do when this year’s Emmys come around. Fans will also be able to see a live collaboration between Lange and Murphy when the Broadway version of Long Day’s Journey Into Night kicks off in March 2016.

Jessica Lange has officially spoken her last line on American Horror Story. After starring for four years on the Ryan Murphy-produced FX drama, Lange has officially confirmed she will not be returning for the fifth season of American Horror Story. The news comes just a short while after Murphy stated he hoped he would be able to woo the actress into staying on with the horror program.

During this week’s PaleyFest panel, Lange didn’t leave anything open to interpretation. In fact, she blatantly just stated she was “done” before launching into a lovely quote about her time on the series.

Luckily, Murphy has already made inroads to entice other big names to the show. Just a few weeks ago, “Born This Way” singer Lady Gaga announced she would appear in American Horror Story Season 5, subtitled Hotel. In true AHS fashion, we currently have no idea who she will be playing, but she’s a big enough name that she should be a draw for the show. With Lange officially leaving, the FX program is one that could use a fresh face who is also a big name.

Not that the series is short on famous faces. Season 4 of American Horror Story, subtitled Freak Show, also featured Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Neil Patrick Harris, Wes Bentley, Sarah Paulson, Michael Chiklis, Frances Conroy, Matt Bomer and Emma Roberts, to name a few. Season 5 will doubtless feature a slew of prominent actors and actresses, as well. But there’s still something tough about losing Lange, who along with Murphy, has always been the big name connected to AHS.

Despite the fact that Lange has spoken out about leaving American Horror Story in the past, Ryan Murphy pumped some hope into our veins a few months ago when he revealed a plan to woo Jessica Lange back for Season 5. At the time, Murphy mentioned that if there was even a possibility for a cameo, he would love to see Lange return. Now, it seems she’s simply ready to move on to other projects, however.

American Horror Story: Hotel won’t be returning to the schedule for quite some time. The show typically begins airing on FX in the fall, which means there are months and months of casting news ahead of us. So far, we know Lady Gaga is signed on, and so are Matt Bomer and Cheyenne Jackson. Bomer even mentioned he may be playing a love interest in the new season, but since Murphy likes to keep casting news under wraps for as long as possible, we probably won’t find out for a while. In the meantime, we’ll let you know as soon as more news drops regarding American Horror Story: Hotel.

In the meantime, you can check out the full Paleyfest panel over at Yahoo.

WARNING: This trailer is red-band and as such is NSFW.

With the fall comes a slew of movies that are gearing for Oscar gold. Then as we move into the winter, a slate of big, flashy blockbusters pile up, demanding our attention. So how do you cut through all this clamor when you're a mid-level thriller about a professor with a gambling addiction? You unleash a trailer like The Gambler's, full of camp appeal and f-bombs, lazily chucked by the always awesome John Goodman.

A remake of the 1974 James Caan vehicle, The Gambler stars Mark Wahlberg, who has shaved off about 60 pounds since he played the conniving bodybuilder in Michael Bay's Pain & Gain. Without the weight, the dude looks haggard, fitting as he's playing a literature professor who gets on the wrong side of some serious gangsters when his gambling debts stack up. Bringing some assurance of madness is American Horror Story grand dame, Jessica Lange. Brie Larson brings the promise of a love subplot with a much younger waitress, and a loan-sharking John Goodman brings a speech about "fuck you money" that's sure to be admired for ages to come.

Yeah, count us in.

We first got word of a Gambler remake back in the summer of 2011. At the time, Martin Scorsese was planning it to be a reunion project for himself and The Departed screenwriter William Monaghan. Shortly thereafter, the project drew some heat when it was revealed that the 1974 Gambler's screenwriter James Toback felt spurned, having not been approached about the remake. From there, Paramount Pictures made little progress with The Gambler until the summer of 2012, when Todd Phillips was in talks to step in to the director's seat that Scorsese had abandoned.

Going from the guy who made Goodfellas to the guy who made The Hangover seemed a radical change in direction, but it didn't take. Another year clicked by, and The Gambler resurfaced with a third director, this time Rupert Wyatt, who was coming off the success of the tent pole sci-fi actioner, Rise of the Planet of the Apes. By this point Paramount was in negotiations with Mark Wahlberg for the role originated by James Caan, and things were looking up. In the coming months, Jessica Lange signed on, as did Brie Larson, and John Goodman. Then things went quiet as The Gambler rolled the dice and galloped into production.

Finally, earlier this month, Paramount gave us a peak at their cards, revealing a few stills of a radically leaner Wahlberg , as is evident in its first poster:

With this latest trailer, The Gambler's on a good streak. Let's see if it can keep it going until its debut on December 19th.

Last night, American Horror Story: Freak Show made its boisterously calamitous debut on FX, and it was a doozy on every level. No sequence better distills the surreality of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s anthology series than the one you’ll see below, in which Jessica Lange’s German carnival owner Elsa Mars belts out a David Bowie hit dressed as David Bowie, 19 years before the song was released.

The mind says, “Fantastic,” while the heart says, “Terrible.” She’s performing “Life on Mars,” a song that doesn’t even exist in the mind of its creator, but that’s also kind of the point, as the scene is an embellished fantasy born of Elsa’s decaying sense of pride. The main Cabinet of Curiosities tent has been rented out by Gloria Mott (Frances Conroy) and her son Dandy (Finn Wittrock), and Elsa performs for the two of them as if she was centerstage for a nightly Vegas show. In her mind, she is the alluring performer she was in years past.

She rides in on a prop rocket ship – already a sign that things are amiss, as the rocket is far more clean and pristine than anything else we’ve seen in this place – and she is soon accompanied by many of the other carnival acts. Some are playing instruments, such as real-life drummer Mat Fraser’s Paul the Illustrated Seal, and there are spotlights moving and other big stage props and tons of glitter and shit. Elsa is also watching herself sing from offstage while wearing her old performance garb. Though the two Jessica Langes might frighten me at first, this is a stage show worth going to see, especially in the bowels of Jupiter, Florida in 1952. Just look at those wooden wave effects!

That is, if this were happening in real life. But no, it’s soon shown to be a detailed trick of Elsa’s mind, and one that she also appears taken aback by. This leaves audiences to wonder if she really belted that song out there like that without any music at all – which would seem to be the case given Gloria’s reaction in the show. So all in all, the fact that we’ve just heard a song from the future makes complete sense in this context. (FYI, it’s not the only time something like that will happen this season.)

American Horror Story is known for some oddball sequences, the most notable of which before Freak Show was from Asylum’s ”The Name Game,” which was also a tempo-switching musical number. Well, my friends, I believe German-accented David Bowie takes the cake. The glitter-topped cake.

Read my thoughts on last night’s episode here and find American Horror Story: Freak Show every Wednesday night on FX.

October is the most glorious month of the year, with crisp weather and Halloween decorations accompanying the change in seasons. It also marks the time of year when television loses exactly all of its marbles for TV’s most baffling anthology series, which is currently going by the name American Horror Story: Freak Show. A traveling carnival – currently not traveling – in a doomed small town is the concept co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk came up with for this year’s extravaganza, with a few new faces joining the duo’s growing troupe of actors. “Monsters Among Us” alone has enough murder, madness and mayhem in it that I can already call myself obsessed with this series all over again. Come one, come all! Even you, clown!

”Only by entering will you learn its secrets.”

Meet Elsa Mars (Jessica Lange), a German ex-pat whose years of glory as a cabaret dancer are closer in her mind than they are in reality. (She ain’t got no legs!) She runs Fraulein Elsa’s Cabinet of Curiosities, or the Freak Show if you want to be crass. She and her crew are settled in Jupiter, Florida, a backwoodsy place where a murderer is on the loose. Elsa isn’t above using her wiles to keep the carnival afloat, but she’d rather just be bringing in audiences and profits naturally. She needs more attractions than just her bearded assistant Ethel (Kathy Bates), Ethel’s lobster-handed son Jimmy (Evan Peters) and the assorted cast of sideshow stereotypes. (There’s even a geek that eats chicken heads, so have no fear.)

This isn’t just Elsa’s story though. Bette and Dot (Sarah Paulson) are telekinetic conjoined twins who become Elsa’s pet project. Or pet projects, I guess. They’re on the run for murdering their mother, and their entry into the Freak Show means they’re part of the family now, and they’ll be defended. In fact, Jimmy kills a detective that comes sniffing around to arrest them, but that was mostly because the cop referred to them as “freaks,” and not exactly to keep Bette and Dot safe. Still, though.

It’s so goddamned interesting watching Paulson as the two sisters. Dot is the straight-laced one who has reservations about opening themselves up to Elsa & Co., while Bette is the more naïve daydreamer and idealist. Their differing points of view are occasionally shown through split-screen, which is really creative, and Murphy (who directed the pilot) uses the series’ signature tilted shots to separate Bette and Dot in interesting ways. Paulson’s characters through the years have never been my favorites, but she’s doing something pretty phenomenal here. Add to that the cheeky cigarette gag, the quasi-ambidextrousness and other details and I’m in love. Or whatever emotion.

That Clown, Tho

Taking a page from Zodiac (and plenty of slasher flicks), Freak Show introduces audiences to the highly touted Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch) via a couple getting romantic at some make out spot. Twisty wears a ghoulish mask across the bottom of his face, performing childish tricks for the girl until he is antagonized by the guy, when his unblinking stare turns evil. Suffice to say, the guy gets brutally stabbed all over his torso and the girl presumably meets a similar fate.

While that scene was only vaguely unsettling, given the desensitizing history of horror cinema, the part inside Twisty’s decrepit school bus home with the kids was nerve-rattling. I’m not so much freaked by just a silent dude in makeup, but when his balloon breaks and he starts losing his shit, I felt like I was in serious trouble for something. And he’s basically just making a lot of noise while throwing big rubber balls against a cage. It isn’t complicated, but it’s effective. We’re not quite sure what happened to him in the past, but it’s clearly knocked all but one or two of his screws loose. The fact that he sees Jimmy and the rest stabbing the dead cop doesn’t bode well for anyone. And I can’t wait.

”They’re my headliners.”

The underlying current in American Horror Story: Freak Show is the rift between the performers and the regular folks. Jimmy is determined to bring the freaks into the mainstream, attempting to break protocol by eating at a diner in public. Jupiter doesn’t want them there, although Elsa is dead set on making it work. When directly challenged by a candy striper woman who swears that she was drugged and raped by the carnies, Elsa shows her the strangest home video I’ve ever seen, which reveals the woman enjoying herself as she got stoned and boned to her heart’s content. I’m not quite sure what this was meant to do, besides proving we’re all a little freaky.

That point of view seems to be guiding the exquisitely named Dandy Mott (Finn Wittrock) the anti-latchkey child to Gloria (Frances Conroy), his outstandingly controlling mother. They are the only spectators during one of Elsa’s performances, and Finn makes it known that he wants to be a part of this life, buying out the whole show for themselves and then offering to buy Bette and Dot from Elsa, storming off when she denies them. They'll be back, but they won't be any more comfortable to watch.

Honestly, I’m blind to any faults this show has going for it, though I'm sure others will find them. Something as ridiculous as a fantasy performance of David Bowie’s “Life on Mars” fits right at home here, despite the fact that the song would have been the most progressive tune the world had ever heard in 1952. I wasn’t thinking about reality then, so it didn’t matter. We don’t get to meet all of the characters in American Horror Story: Freak Show, as there are seemingly thousands, but that just keeps things interesting as this season moves on. And we have Jessica Lange, so who needs anybody else?

As premieres go, it wasn’t quite as strong as our introduction to Rubber Suit Man in the first season, but it’s definitely more confident in its universe building than Asylum and Coven. Yes, a show where a dude roughly fingers people with his messed-up hands can be considered confident. Though it’s too soon to really call it, I’m already on board with calling Freak Show a winner. Dark days are coming, and I’ll be watching from between the tent folds. See you there.

Other Thoughts Floating Beneath the Big Top

Can we all agree that these are the best opening titles this show has given us yet? It’s like Laika’s version of a Tool video.

Much respect to the supporting cast here. While it’s fine that they slapped a beard on Kathy Bates and called it a day, I’m glad they chose to use people with existing physical abnormalities rather than trying to do it all with prosthetics and CGI.

What dark corner of the universe did Ethel’s accent originate in?

“Every Thursday night at 9 p.m., he puts on Dragnet and climbs on top of me.”

D-licious Milk D-livery is the easiest Wheel of Fortune Bonus Round puzzle ever.

Nothing like a hospital for a “baby drowning” joke.

Having a cuckoo clock go off during this show was like seeing an actor say a former character’s most famous catchphrase.

For a series that references some pretty dumb shit sometimes, Gaslight was an excellent movie to bring up.

Did anybody else think “Smooth Criminal” when Elsa was wearing that white suit? Looking good, Lange.

“Mother made it toasty for you.”

Do my nails, Pepper!

Hearing Ethel tell her son Jimmy “No flipper action,” is so amazingly disgusting.

If you’ve been really tuned in to American Horror Story, you may already know that Jessica Lange has been planning for Freak Show to be her last appearance in the popular FX series. Lange’s such an integral part of the American Horror Story franchise, it’s tough to imagine the series without her, and luckily for fans, Ryan Murphy is not willing to let go of his leading lady without a fight. Maybe Lange will be back for another dose of horror, after all.

On Tuesday, Murphy spoke out to reporters about American Horror Story, with TV Line noting that he has a plan to try to convince Lange to return next year.

Apparently, Lange has gone from a firm "no" to a "maybe", which is not quite a “yes” but still seems pretty hopeful. Murphy also went on to explain that American Horror Story: Freak Show has been the most fun Lange has had shooting so far, which could go a long way to change her mind about future seasons.

Murphy and Lange clearly enjoy working together, and even if Lange does want to devote less time in the future to the weirdness that is American Horror Story, I could see her signing on for a smaller role in any upcoming seasons FX decides to air. The great thing about the American Horror Story franchise is that it requires a true ensemble cast, and there are a slew of small, medium and large roles available for talent. The variety in characters is one of the reasons Murphy has been able to attract so many big names thus far, which has translated into plenty of Emmy and Golden Globes nods and awards.

American Horror Story: Freak Show will begin airing on FX tonight at 9 p.m. ET. Jessica Lange is set to play Elsa Mars, the head of a freak show in Jupiter, Florida in the 1950s. She’ll be surrounded by an all-star cast that includes Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Michael Chiklis, Frances Conroy, Emma Roberts, Denis O’Hare, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, John Carroll Lynch, Wes Bentley and many, many more.

“What you are about to see will astound your very senses and harrow, yes, harrow your soul.”

If Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk were around to debut American Horror Story: Freak Show to American audiences of 1952 – when this Season 4 iteration is mostly set – there is no doubt that the souls of all viewers would indeed be harrowed and astounded. Desensitized 2014 TV watchers may not feel the same kind of awestruck revulsion, but in true American Horror Story style, there are a vast number of subject points to chew on in this small town carnival setting. Psycho clowns, bearded ladies and lobster hands are only clawing the surface of this erratically mature new storyline. Come on down, and tell the ticket lady Jimmy Darling sent you.

Welcome to the Freak Show. Front and center – but for how long? – is Elsa Mars, a German-accented Jessica Lange, predictably always seen with a cigarette in her hand and her character’s regrets behind her eyes. She’s struggling to keep this traveling carnival afloat, as fewer people are making it to the shows,challenging her ability to create profits. Elsa chooses to remain in Jupiter, Florida, but Jupiter, Florida wants very little to do with her and her crew.

The aforementioned Jimmy Darling (Evan Peters) is a go-getter who wants the world to accept his disfigurement and those of the show’s freaks. (But don’t call them freaks to Jimmy’s face, because that idea might get you in trouble.) He’s backed by the towering Amazon Eve (Erika Ervin), Paul the Illustrated Seal (Mat Fraser), pinhead Pepper (Naomi Grossman) and more, and they’re a family that sticks together through thick or thin. Jimmy’s mother is the bearded lady and Elsa’s second banana Ethel, as portrayed by Kathy Bates with an accent that sounds like “upside down Irish.” Though Jimmy doesn’t know it, his father is Dell Toledo (Michael Chiklis), a strongman thug married to the three-breasted Desiree Dupree. (They don’t make their glorious appearances until the second episode.)

The carnival isn’t just threatened by the freaks' secrets and angered local townsfolk; there’s a murderer on the loose, and he just so happens to be a mostly silent, hulking, filthy-as-shit clown. It’s the clown we’ve been waiting for for months, and while he still doesn’t come close to the terror of Tim Curry’s Pennywise, John Carroll Lynch’s hauntingly manic presence puts this villainous monster in the upper clown echelon. His mental disturbance is larger than his sadistic slasher movie impulses, and Murphy & Co. are perfectly game to play up the absurd as well as the violent spookiness. (The scenes inside his school bus hut are hysterically uncomfortable.) As the clown is arguably the biggest “horror” element in this season, at least so far, American Horror Story once again falls on the wayside when it comes to the titular genre, but the darkly comedic flair and unnerving approach still make this uniquely engaging TV.

That’s about as objective as I can get, because I absolutely love this show in every way possible. The biggest surprise for me was how Sarah Paulson’s conjoined twins Dot and Bette were handled. Though it takes a little time to grow accustomed to watching Paulson react to herself, the way their story and interactions are presented (sometimes with the use of splitscreen P.O.V.) is excellent and remains well within this show’s signature aesthetic. Bette is the more emotionally driven one, while Dot is more reserved and pragmatic, and both have their own ideals and talents that the other doesn’t, which could possibly be their undoing. Pun intended. Their relationship is already more complex than almost anything in this show’s short history, and the thought-provoking moments are combined with amusingly pleasing bits like one of them taking a drag of a cigarette while the other exhales the smoke, or one reading while the other is tanning.

Come one, come all. You'll find everything here. Intentionally anachronistic pop song performances with a full carnival band? Check. Someone biting the head off of a chicken? Check. The smallest woman in the world? Check. Frances Conroy as an overbearing mother whose son Dandy (Finn Wittrock) is a whiny brat who escapes boredom and his mother’s clutches by finding a dangerous new path in life? Check. I fully expect and prematurely embrace the point at which American Horror Story: Freak Show flies off of the Ferris wheel rails, but this is a solid foundation upon which the show’s writers and directors can build a multi-level madhouse, with an impeccable cast acting it all out. And we don’t even have to go to Jupiter, Florida for admission.

Rating:

Tell your children this isn’t “that kind of circus,” and find American Horror Story: Freak Show when it debuts on FX on Wednesday, October 8.

Last season on American Horror Story, the Coven storyline gave Kathy Bates a chance to be excruciatingly racist and immortal, and the actress also spent a couple of episodes as a disembodied head. This season, she gets to be Ethel, the Bearded Lady, and though it seems like a downgrade from the murderous Madame LaLaurie, she’ll probably end up causing even more horrifying events in American Horror Story: Freak Show. Above is one of our first looks at the premiere episode, and it shows off Bates’ grody-ass facial hair in all its scraggly glory.

Ethel is one of many performers in the titular carnival exhibit run by Elsa Mars (Jessica Lange), a German expat who is trying to keep alive one of the last traveling freak shows in America. Elsa is an ex-cabaret dancer and will undoubtedly exhibit the same dramatic style as all of Lange’s American Horror Story characters. Have your ballots ready, Emmy voters.

Ethel is Elsa’s second in command and is the mother of Jimmy (Evan Peters), whose “lobster hands” are his claim to defame. Take a peek at Jimmy and Elsa in the image below. Just don’t ask him if he wants to arm wrestle.

Michael Chiklis plays Ethel’s ex-husband Dell, who is hired on as the strongman in the group. He’s married to Angela Bassett’s Desiree Dupree, a performer with her own physical deformity, though hers is a tad more alluring, as she has three breasts, Total Recall style. She’s hiding them in the image below though.

Characters not making it into new images are conjoined twins Bette and Dot (Sarah Paulson), Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch), and those played by Frances Conroy, Wes Bentley, Emma Roberts, Denis O’Hare, Pattie LaBelle, Gabourey Sidibe and Finn Whitrock. You can find the rest of the new shots at Collider or catch American Horror Story: Freak Show when it hits FX on Wednesday, October 8. But first, head over to the next page to check out the latest teaser, in which curiosity doesn’t kill the cat, but rather the kid.

For weeks now, FX and Ryan Murphy have been relentlessly teasing the upcoming creepfest American Horror Story: Freak Show. And while ghastly clowns and sword-swallowers are a treat, these teasers aren't really a part of the show itself, and only a few actual details about the Freak Show plot and characters have emerged. Until now. Cue the slo-mo calliope music.

As a part of the upcoming EW Fall TV Preview, Murphy and the cast divulged a big top full of information about what we can expect to see this season. Assuming you aren’t hiding your eyes behind your lobster hands or anything.

Emmy winner Jessica Langue will star as Elsa Mars, a former German cabaret star who brings her financially troubled freak show to Jupiter, Florida. (Expect to see some cabaret flashbacks.) In true Lange character form, Elsa is definitely manipulative in achieving her goals, but the actress emphasizes this isn’t all about exploitation and that she loves her employees and “truly cares for them in her own selfish, narcissistic way.” But times are tight, and she is rounding up a few new faces for her crew, some of which spark controversy.

She brings in Dell Toledo (Michael Chiklis), a muscle-bound strongman who is trying to evade capture by the cops, and his wife Desiree Dupree (Angela Bassett), a performer with three breasts, in full Total Recall style. Sarah Paulson, who plays new conjoined twin recruits Bette and Dot, says that Bassett was a fan of flashing the prosthetics around the set.

Dell attempts to become the big man in the ensemble, but he has some competition from someone very close to him, as Elsa already employs Dell’s son Jimmy (Evan Peters), a performer who was born with misshapen hands, and Dell’s ex-wife Ethel (Kathy Bates), the bearded lady who is basically Elsa’s second-in-command. Murphy shared Ethel’s past was a bright one, as she was a legit circus star in the 1920s and 1930s, but “then she had her baby and she became a down-and-out drunk, and Elsa saved her.” But not “shaved her,” thankfully.

On the dark side of things, we have Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch), an evil bastard who isn’t too pleased that the freak show has arrived in Jupiter, where he is now retired. His goal becomes terrifying the performers, and Murphy makes a particularly vivid promise. Twisty wears a mask over the lower part of his face, and whenever that mask finally comes off, Murphy says that the reveal of what's beneath it will make audiences "faint in terror.” Considering I’ve never fainted in my life, I’d have to expect to see my dead grandfather on the lower part of his face in order for that to actually happen.

For the series’ annual two-part Halloween episode, Wes Bentley will take on the role of Edward Mordrake, a man who has another face on the back of his head that tells him to do evil things. Emma Roberts and Denis O’Hare play a pair of con artists, while Frances Conroy is an affluent woman whose son, played by Finn Whitrock, wants to become a part of the freak show. And then there’s Gabourey Sidibe, a socialite who returns to Jupiter after getting word that her mother (Patti LaBelle) has gone missing.

Take a look at the first American Horror Story: Freak Show trailer below.

Buy a ticket to the freak show when American Horror Story returns on Wednesday, October 8. Make sure your fainting pillow is fully fluffed.

American Horror Story’s first season was rife with death, haunting, and violence, so much so that a whole slew of new characters have been added to the cast of the second season (note: granted the new episodes will also be set in a different time period). If for some reason you missed out on Season 1, due to some ghost problems in your newly restored house or dealing with odd men in rubber suits, don’t be too worried. The FX series will be headed to Blu-Ray and DVD before you know it.

American Horror Story: The Complete First Season will be available for purchase on both Blu-Ray and DVD beginning on September 25. The first season of the series actual won a Golden Globe award for actress Jessica Lange, and as such Fox Home Entertainment has put together a pretty nice—and reasonably priced—Blu-Ray and DVD sets for audiences.

Series creator and executive producer Ryan Murphy will appear on the extras on the disc, lending his voice and ideas to audio commentary spanning the entirety of the first episode. The other extras will include “On the Set” and “Making of” featurettes, as well as a few other goodies. The best news is both sets will come with the same bonus features, so you don’t have to feel as if you are losing out if you roll with the $49.98 DVD cost over the $59.98 Blu-Ray.

Blu-Ray and DVD extras

• “Audio Commentary: Pilot Episode”
• “Behind the Fright: The Making of American Horror Story”
• “The Murder House” (presented by Eternal Darkness Tours)
• “On the Set of American Horror Story Season One”
• “Overture to Horror: Creating the Title Sequence”
• “Out of the Shadows: Meet the House Ghosts”

Here’s an unexpected bit of last-minute recasting. Jessica Lange apparently will be subbing in for Glenn Close on the set of Therese Raquin, according to EW.com. The period love triangle co-stars Martha Marcy May Marlene star Elizabeth Olsen and Tom Felton, forever remembered as Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter series. Charlie Stratton will direct.

There’s no mention in the piece of why Close left the production, which we first started reporting on back in November 2011. And Close reportedly was shepherding this remake of Emile Zola’s erotic thriller along for years. Not quite with the passion she brought to Albert Nobbs, for which she received an Oscar nomination, but still, to have her exit with no explanation is odd.

In Close’s absence, Lange now will play the title character, Olsen’s domineering aunt who watches as her niece engages in a passionate affair with her husband’s (Felton) best friend (Oscar Isaacs).

Obviously, transitioning from Close to Lange is a lateral move (if not an upgrade). The latter has two Oscar wins under her belt, and recently won the 2009 Emmy for Grey Gardens She earned raves for her performance in the FX series American Horror Story and has proven over the years an ability to play virtually any character. She will not have as much prep time for Raquin, which is in pre-production yet doesn’t have a release date. But if any actress can hit the ground running an tighten up slack on her prep schedule, it’s Lange. I just hope we learn what happened to Close, and why she decided to exit a role that sounded right up her alley.

There were a number of things that worked for Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s FX drama series American Horror Story, and Jessica Lange was one of them. So it’s especially good news that she’s not only set to return for Season 2, but that her character will play a big role in the season. And there’s a twist...

We learned last year, following the conclusion of the first season of the FX horror-drama American Horror Story that creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk planned to start fresh for Season 2, taking the show to a new location, likely to be filled with new horrors. Well, they’re taking a similar approach with Jessica Lange, it seems. According to Entertainment Weekly, Lange will return for Season 2, however she won’t be playing Constance.

I actually sort of love this news. As great (meaning twisted, dark and sometimes downright mean) as Constance was, creating a new character likely means giving Lange another chance to knock our socks off with her performance, without the writers being forced to figure out a way to work the old character into the new story. Whether this proves to be a brilliant move on the part of Murphy remains to be seen, but it sure is exciting.

Meanwhile, Lange isn’t the only former cast-member set to return for Season 2. Those names won’t be disclosed until Friday during the PaleyFest panel. Given that we know that they’re willing to create new characters for old cast members, it could really be anyone. If I had to pick three, I’d probably go with Evan Tate, Denis O’Hare and Frances Conroy, but there really isn’t a single person from the first season’s cast that I wouldn’t love to see return for Season 2.