A Star-Studded Cast and a Familiar Face Returns
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 10: Jessica Lange attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
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When the cast for season 13 of Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story was revealed, fans were excited to see returning names like Angela Bassett, Gabourey Sidibe, Evan Peters, and Sarah Paulson, and even a few new entries to the cast like singer and actress Ariana Grande, who previously worked with Murphy on Scream Queens. Still, amongst the excitement for the coming season, one name stood out and fans quickly took to social media to express their excitement over Jessica Lange returning to the show, marking season 13 as one of the show’s most anticipated seasons to date.
A Long-Awaited Comeback for a Defining Performer
Lange’s return to the cast is a welcome surprise for longtime fans. Having played multiple characters in the first four seasons, she left after her fourth season, receiving a proper farewell in American Horror Story: Freak Show, and only appeared briefly in American Horror Story: Apocalypse, the ninth season. For FX and Hulu, her comeback offers a narrative centerpiece, signaling a return to the show’s roots. The series, which is an anthology with some connected seasons across its twelve installments, naturally incorporates change, making her return even more significant.
From “Oh Christ, No” to Season 13 … What Changed?
For many fans, Lange’s return was a hopeful possibility that initially seemed impossible. Earlier this year, she was asked in an interview if she would appear in American Horror Story’s thirteenth season, and she swiftly rejected the idea. “Oh Christ no,” she responded. “I haven’t done it for more than 10 years. So no, I’m not doing it.” However, months later, her surprising cast announcement for season 13 made the news even more exciting. It remains unclear whether Lange’s comeback was driven by renewed interest in a role many consider a defining moment in her career or if Murphy’s creative pitch persuaded her. Nonetheless, her decision suggests that a heartfelt goodbye doesn’t necessarily mean it’s forever.
Why Jessica Lange Originally Walked Away
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 23: Actress Jessica Lange accepts Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie award for “American Horror Story” onstage during the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on September 23, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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After her portrayal as Elsa Mars on the fourth season, Freak Show, Lange told Entertainment Weekly her reason for leaving in 2014. This is a 6-month commitment every year,” she said. “That will be four years in a row. I want to have more time to myself I guess. Once it’s over and I have a full year ahead of me with nothing to do, who knows? It might not have been the best decision. But I think four years doing something is a sufficient amount of time.”
Lange returned in 2018 for two episodes of Apocalypse, reprising her role as Constance Langdon from the first season, but she has mostly stayed away from the franchise since then. Her return highlights her lasting impact and the franchise’s talent for appealing to fans’ favorite elements, familiar faces, and nostalgic stories.
Fans Celebrate Online With Viral Comparisons
Fans in the hundreds of thousands expressed their excitement online when the casting announcement was made. One post on X specifically explained to non-American Horror Story fans how significant this was for the show, saying it was similar to “Rihanna returning to music,” which highlights how much this casting, along with the other announcements, will secure guaranteed viewers and create the viral buzz most networks wish they could generate.
A Legacy Season That Could Redefine the Franchise
Similar to American Horror Story: Apocalypse, fans speculate that season 13 may serve as a legacy season, connecting plot points from earlier standalone stories within the larger American Horror Story anthology. By combining nostalgia with renewed fan interest through the cast, Murphy is transforming what might have been just another series entry into a significant event that could influence how ongoing IPs evolve in a constantly changing market.