It seems that Ryan Murphy has been out-doing himself with each successive project. Feud was amazing and don’t even get me started on my newest obsession, Pose. Well, Ryan is bringing back one of his OG muses for the eighth season of American Horror Story and I can’t wait.
During the American Horror Story panel at the TCA summer press tour on Friday, Sarah Paulson (another of Ryan’s muses) confirmed that Jessica Lange is returning for season eight. She announced that “I have the great pleasure of saying, yes, she will be back,” confirming that “she will be back as Constance in an episode that I’m going to direct.” The Sarah-directed episode is the sixth of the season, dubbed American Horror Story: Apocalypse.
Constance was Jessica’s character in the show’s first season, she was the next door neighbor of the Harmons (Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton) and the mother of Tate (Evan Peters). She’s also the grandmother of Michael Langdon, the baby/anti-christ who has already been revealed as a character for the new season. Constance was my second favorite of Jessica’s AHS characters, after Sister Jude, whom she played in Asylum. But since the new AHS season is a merger of seasons 1 (Horror House) and 3 (Coven), there’s really no place for Sister Jude to fit in.
As for Sarah, she’s reprising her role as medium Billie Dean Howard, the medium she played on season one. She’s also playing her AHS: Coven character Cordelia Goode, the supreme witch, and a new character, Venable. She said at the panel that
“[Cordelia] is the supreme for now. At the beginning of our story, that is the title she still holds. I don’t know how long that’s going to last. And enjoyment is not possible at this particular juncture in this story. She’s not running around like her mother, snorting cocaine and throwing young witches up against the wall, though she may like to be doing that.”
Among the (many) other returning actors are Kathy Bates, Evan Peters, Adina Porter, Emma Roberts, Cheyenne Jackson, Billy Eichner, Leslie Grossman and Billie Lourd. Joan Collins is also joining the cast. The new series is set to take place about 18 months in the future. Billy recently tweeted about the new season, saying, “I’m not allowed to say a word but…it’s so insane. It’s just so insane.”
Just back from shooting @AHSFX. I’m not allowed to say a word but…it’s so insane. It’s just so insane #AHSApocalypse
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) August 2, 2018
The trailer for the new season also arrived yesterday and it’s creepy and symbolic. I have no idea what’s going on, but I have to agree with Billy in that it does look pretty insane.
It's time. #AHSApocalypse pic.twitter.com/z2FO9tKCZm
— AmericanHorrorStory (@AHSFX) August 6, 2018
The new season debuts on September 12 on FX. Even though Ryan’s has a multi-million contract with Netflix, AHS has been confirmed for an additional two seasons on FX. I’m really excited to see what happens in this season, and the promise of two more makes me so excited. Hopefully Jessica isn’t going to take another break after season eight.
Photos: Getty, WENN
I hope this is good. The first season is still the best season to me and Coven had so much potential and was such a disappointment by then end that hopefully they can meet in the middle and be a really solid season.
I wonder of Taissa Farmiga will be back?
I agree. Murder House was so good and it has been successively downhill for me since then. Last season was nearly unwatchable.
As for the “genius” of Ryan Murphy, we’ll see. He seems to get very excited at the beginning and lose interest by the end. American Crime Story 1 was excellent. Season 2, not so much. I though AHS jumped the shark last year, but will watch this because I do love Murder House.
Agree with everything you said! Murder House was the only season I’ve watched through to the end – they always start out strong and quickly lose steam.
I preferred the second season of American Crime Story (the performances were brilliant and I loved the mini-movie, backwards structure), but I know I’m in the minority so I certainly get your point.
American Horror Story, otoh, abides by the law of diminishing returns, unfortunately. Murder House was excellent; Asylum would have been great without the silly alien subplot; Coven was very shaky but had some great performances and styling; the rest of the seasons deteriorated really quickly after that.
I am disappointed that they have halted season 2 of Feud. It was going to be Charles and Diana. I wasn’t so much excited about watching them but I loved the first season of Joan vs. Bette and thought the second season could be great depending on the portrayals.
What? I hadn’t heard that! I loved Feud.
He has such potential but nearly always falls flat after a time… AHS and Nip Tuck being prime examples!
Jessica Lange can do no wrong, what ever she’s appearing in she’s the Ultimate Grand Supreme.