RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesLogo text FX has unveiled the first teaser trailer for its highly anticipated 13th season of American Horror Story from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, which includes the horror franchise's most beloved stars and characters returning.
Twisty the Clown (played by John Carroll Lynch) from season four's Freak Show opens the trailer. While inside a hotel (a nod to season five), returning stars and characters include Evan Peters as Kai Anderson ( Cult ), Jessica Lange as Constance Langdon ( Murder House ), Sarah Paulson as Cordelia Goode, Angela Bassett as Marie Laveau and Emma Roberts as Madison Montgomery, all from season three's Coven. Rubber Man ( Murder House ) also appears. Related Stories TV 'The Lowdown' Reveals Season 2 Storyline and Premiere Date TV How 'The Shards' Blew Up at HBO -- and Ended Up in Ryan Murphy's Hands
In addition, Paul Anthony Kelly, who became a breakout star from Murphy's Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, is seen in the trailer in a bathtub with a snake. (Could he be the villain?)
Earlier this month, Murphy revealed that season 13 was bringing all seasons together. "Everybody thinks it's a Coven season and it's not. It's all the seasons," he told Entertainment Tonight. "Sarah Paulson is playing six or seven roles. Jessica Lange is playing all four of her iconic characters. Evan Peters is playing five characters. … It is like the Avengers. They all come together to defeat the ultimate evil."
The cast also includes Kathy Bates, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, Leslie Grossman, Joey Pollari, Avantika, Jamie Brewer, Elle Chapman, Berto Colon, Alex Consani, Frances Conroy, Mat Fraser, Seth Gabel, Orlando Jones, Tig Notaro, Madelaine Petsch, Fedor Steer, Mena Suvari, Zach Villa and John Waters.
A big surprise this season was to see Lange return after she departed the series in 2015 . Peters, one of the franchise's most recognizable stars and a frequent Murphy collaborator, previously told The Hollywood Reporter he was "shocked" Lange agreed to return.
Speaking with THR earlier this month for Murphy's latest show The Shards, the prolific creator said that this upcoming season won't be the end of the show.
"Season 13 is not the end; I'm working on season 14 as we speak in terms of, 'What's the idea?' and 'Who wants to be in it?,' he said, while also revealing that he wouldn't have done the show if Lange hadn't said yes.
"It all started with Jessica [Lange] because Jessica, after we did the first four seasons, wanted to go off and do different things, which I understood completely. But I reached out to her thinking she would say no, and if she had said no, I probably wouldn't have done it," he shared. "Sarah [Paulson] and I talked about it. She said yes. Sarah [Paulson] played six characters in the season. With all of the OGs, it wasn't even a conversation. I couldn't get the sentence out of my mouth fast enough. 'Will you come back…' 'Yes.' I was like, 'Well, OK.' So before I started writing it, I had all of them — Emma [Roberts] and Evan [Peters] and Kathy Bates; Angela Bassett and Gabourey Sidibe and Leslie Grossman."
Murphy added: "I have a great passion for that show, and [FX boss] John Landgraf has a great passion for that show. It's a very important show in my career. It's something that John said, 'As long as you want to keep making them, I'll keep airing them.' That's always been the idea behind it, which is very empowering."
AHS: 13 will include 13 half-hour episodes, and premiere Thursday, Sept. 24 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on FX and Hulu. Premiere week and week two will each feature three episodes, followed by a pair of episodes each following Thursday leading up to the final episode on Oct. 29.
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