Ryan Murphy Reveals AHS: 13 Cast, Premiere Date, and Jessica Lange's Return

Ryan Murphy has confirmed that Jessica Lange will return for the 13th season of American Horror Story, titled AHS: 13, premiering September 24 on FX and Hulu. Lange, who left the series in 2015 after Freak Show, will reprise all four of her former characters: Constance Langdon, Fiona Goode, and others. Evan Peters will play five characters, and Sarah Paulson will play six. Murphy described the season as a 'greatest hits' featuring the show's most iconic villains, anchored by a new character played by Joey Pollari. New cast members include Paul Anthony Kelly, John Waters, Alex Consani, and Avantika Vandanapu. Murphy revealed that he first pitched the idea to Lange over dinner, and she agreed on the condition of having a musical number. The season is 13 episodes and was written with Brad Falchuk, Ned Martel, and Charlie Carver. Murphy directed for the first time since Freak Show and noted that Evan Peters had to perform a scene as two characters simultaneously, which he completed in two takes. The season's central evil remains a secret, with Murphy hinting that it goes 'above the Antichrist's pay grade.' Murphy also shared that his favorite AHS season is Roanoke, despite its mixed reception. The interview was conducted by Vogue and edited for length.