Ryan Murphy Confirms ‘American Horror Story: 13’ Is a Major Crossover Event
Anthology series thrive on reinvention, and few have embraced crossover chaos like Ryan Murphy’s horror universe. After over a decade of standalone seasons that occasionally referenced each other, this approach is about to undergo a significant transformation.
Excitement for the thirteenth installment has been mounting since production began in April, fueled by a steady stream of first-look images showcasing the return of some of the franchise’s most iconic actors. While many fans initially believed the new season would simply revisit the beloved witches of ‘Coven’, that assumption has proven to be just part of the story.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight at the world premiere of FX’s ‘The Shards’, Murphy revealed that Season 13 is not a standalone ‘Coven’ revival but a sprawling crossover that draws from the franchise’s entire history. He described the concept as uniting characters from every past season to confront what he refers to as the ultimate evil, likening the scale of this event to ‘The Avengers’.
This comparison is more than just promotional language, considering the number of roles the show’s biggest stars are reportedly taking on. Murphy mentioned that Sarah Paulson is expected to portray six or seven different characters throughout the season, while Jessica Lange will reprise all four of her most iconic roles from across the franchise. Evan Peters is also confirmed to play five distinct characters.
Lange’s return is particularly significant for longtime fans, especially since she previously stated in a February 2025 interview that she had no intention of coming back to the series. Her characters set to return include Constance Langdon from the original ‘Murder House’ season, Sister Jude from ‘Asylum’, Fiona Goode from ‘Coven’, and Elsa Mars from ‘Freak Show’, allowing fans to revisit four of the show’s most beloved villains and antiheroes in a single season.
Paulson and Peters also bring their extensive histories to the show, having appeared in nearly every season of the anthology since its inception. Together, they have portrayed over a dozen distinct characters throughout the series, leaving plenty of mystery regarding which past roles will return.
Joining the returning cast are Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, and Billie Lourd, along with newcomer Ariana Grande, who will enter the ‘American Horror Story’ universe for the first time after her earlier collaboration with Murphy on ‘Scream Queens’. Angela Bassett is also set to return, reprising her ‘Coven’ role as Marie Laveau.
Murphy confirmed that the season will consist of thirteen episodes, a choice tied to the season’s numerical title. He explained that the scripts took months, and in some cases years, to develop alongside longtime collaborators Brad Falchuk, Ned Martel, and Charlie Carver.
According to Murphy, convincing his longtime cast to return was not always an easy task, as many had previously declined to return for earlier seasons. He recounted pitching the crossover concept directly to Lange, noting that once she understood the scale of his plans, she felt compelled to agree.
With thirteen episodes and such a star-studded returning cast, ‘American Horror Story: 13‘ is shaping up to be the franchise’s most ambitious installment yet. The season is set to premiere on FX and Hulu on September 24.
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