American Horror Story Returns With Season 13: Fan Favorites Return + New Season Trailer

In what is shaping up to be the most ambitious television event of the decade, FX has officially unveiled the trailer for American Horror Story Season 13 (stylized simply as 13), locking in a Thursday, September 24, 2026 global premiere.

Described by network executives as an “Avengers-level” horror crossover, the upcoming season will serve as a massive multiverse mashup. The plot reportedly unites the franchise’s most iconic protagonists, witches, and ghosts to battle an ultimate, world-ending evil.

The network confirmed that the recently wrapped production will ditch traditional release models for a fast-paced, high-density scheduling block designed to dominate the Halloween season.

The season will consist of 13 half-hour episodes broadcast via FX and streaming next-day on Hulu and Disney+. The accelerated rollout includes a three-episode premiere block on September 24, followed by another three episodes on October 1, before settling into a two-episode-per-week cadence leading to an October 29 finale.

The Ultimate Reunion

Showrunner Ryan Murphy has pulled off an unprecedented casting feat by reassembling the foundational heavy hitters of the anthology series. In a surreal twist, several actors will play multiple legacy characters within the very same scenes.

Jessica Lange returns to the franchise for the first time since 2018. She is set to reprise all four of her award-winning roles from Murder House, Asylum, Coven, and Freak Show. Reports indicate Lange agreed to return under the strict condition that her characters receive a new musical number.

Sarah Paulson is booked to tackle an astonishing six to seven roles, including the Supreme Witch Cordelia Goode.

Evan Peters will portray five of his past characters, including the villainous Tate Langdon and cult leader Kai Anderson.

The sprawling ensemble also locks in franchise veterans Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, and Gabourey Sidibe, alongside horror icons like John Carroll Lynch’s Twisty the Clown. Pop star Ariana Grande was briefly attached to the project but dropped out due to stadium tour conflicts.

The Future of the Franchise

While fans speculated that the symbolic number 13 might signal the anthology’s final curtain call, Murphy quickly put rumors to rest. Taking to social media, the creator confirmed that 13 is merely a celebration of the show’s rich history, and active development on Season 14 is already underway.

Angela Bassett as the Voodoo Queen

• Confirmed Character: Angela Bassett is officially reprising her iconic role as Marie Laveau, the powerful historical Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.
• The Multiverse Context: First-look images published by Vogue show Bassett back in character, ready to stand alongside Sarah Paulson’s Cordelia Goode and Emma Roberts’ Madison Montgomery. This marks her third time embodying Laveau in the franchise.

Kathy Bates’ Return Details

• Confirmed Return: Kathy Bates is fully locked into the ensemble cast. During production, she casually teased her involvement to Deadline by mentioning her preparation to “go back” to the twisted world of Ryan Murphy.
• Character Speculation: While FX has kept the identity of her specific character tightly under wraps, TVLine industry insiders report that because 13 features a major Coven reunion element, it is highly anticipated that she will once again play the infamous Madame Delphine LaLaurie—the standout role that earned her a Primetime Emmy Award in 2014.

The Return of Queenie

• Confirmed Character: Sidibe is officially reprising her fan-favorite role as Queenie, the powerful human voodoo doll witch from Coven, Hotel, and Apocalypse.
• Set Sightings: Sidibe was photographed by paparazzi on the streets of New York City alongside co-stars Sarah Paulson (Cordelia Goode) and Emma Roberts (Madison Montgomery), confirming that the witches of Miss Robichaux’s Academy are reuniting in full force.
• The Teaser Appearance: In the newly released official FX trailer, Sidibe’s Queenie makes a distinct cameo appearance alongside other classic anthology figures, cementing her role in the season’s massive “multiverse” war against an ultimate evil.