Diane Haithman is contributing to Deadline‘s TV coverage.
UPDATED: Three more American Horror cast members from Season 1, regular Evan Peters and recurring Sarah Paulson and Lily Rabe, will return for the anthology series’ second season as regulars. They will join Jessica Lange and Zachary Quinto, all playing new characters in a new setting at a East Coast institution. AHS co-creator/executive producer Ryan Murphy made the announcement during the show’s PaleyFest panel, held at the packed Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. “We don’t want to talk about it too much, we’re still writing, anybody could pop up at any time,” he said. He didn’t want to elaborate on the returning actors’ new characters, saying only that “everyone is playing the opposite of what they played before.” As for the second season as a whole, “The only real rule on this show is no werewolves and no vampires,” Murphy quipped.
Joining him on the large panel were AHS co-creator/executive producer Brad Falchuk, executive producer Dante Di Loreto and actors Alexandra Breckinridge, Frances Conroy, Paulson, Lange, Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton. The creative team and the actors spent the evening joking about the over-the-top violence, nudity (especially McDermott’s posterior) and kinky sex of the first season while remaining mum about plot details for Season 2. Falchuk did confirm that the team would maintain its commitment to make show an anthology, with a new story each season and “a new group of people to fuck with.”


Oh yeah~~~ Evan!!! I love you Murphy!
AWESOME!!!!
I really enjoyed the first season. It was very different and unpredictable, and Jessica Lange was wonderful. Will look forward to seeing what they come up with in season two.
More Sarah Paulson & Lange vs Quinto? I’m there.
Maybe Paulson will be on Quinto’s side. They did say everyone is playing their opposite.
“The Glee kids were obsessed with American Horror Story – more obsessed than they were with the next Glee script”
Well, maybe it tells more about the quality of the current Glee scripts than about the quality of AHS.
Cannot wait. This is all good news for this AHS fan.
I hate when actors play different roles on the same show. They should continue the story from last season or cast new people in new roles. Do not like what I see and not gonna watch it anymore.
Sorry you’re not more openminded.
I kind of agree. I find it confusing to differentiate the new role from the old role by the same actor in the same show. However, I will check it out to see how they work it.
How many times do you see actors continuing on a show yet playing different characters? They did that several years ago on the Nero Wolfe mysteries…but it’s a rarity on TV. I’m rather excited to see what happens.
How do you know it will be bad? It isn’t written or filmed yet.
Just please have more scenes of Alexandra Breckenridge in garters!
Sorry, Breckinridge has a different pilot this year. Old Moira (Frances Conroy) also has a different gig – so those two are definitely out. If they got the whole cast back, then there wouldn’t be a chance to bring in new blood. Gotta have some new actors, too.
I liked the concept but Evan Peters ruined it for me. Was excited when I thought he wouldn’t he wouldn’t be back. Looks like one less show to DVR.
I’m gonna give it a chance but I completely agree with you.
I see they’re good about following my psychic orders about who to get back for this year – Lange, Quinto, Peters, Paulson. I liked Lily Rabe as well. The only other one I would have added is Taissa Farmiga. Bit surprised that Dennis O’Hare won’t be returning. He’s the kind of character actor who is always useful to have around.
I wasn’t very impressed with the writing last season, I thought it was pretty damn sloppy and the story went nowhere. But if they can deliver fun sensationalism with this cast, I’m sure the bad writing won’t matter. Ya can’t have everything.
I liked AHS for the first half then it became typical Ryan Murphy sludge when he ran out of ideas. The only reason they’re going w anthology style is because Murphy is a one year talent–does great things for a year then loses any creativity and imagination whatesoever. Same thing happened to Glee and Nip/Tuck. Loved Lange in this but it was a one and done thing unfortunately–murphy won’t be able to give her the character or story a second time. Probably won’t watch year 2 but if reviews are good, may go back and catch up.
Season One jumped the shark at some point and I watched the last 3-4 episodes out of a sense of duty rather than anticipation and enjoyment.
So the second season will be a different house? OK. They’ve got me to give it a try then.
Nope, not a house… Most likely a mental institution or prison.
Urrrrrgh
really we have to put up with tate/ Evan fangirls again!!! I was hoping this season will be free of that
I would have taken Taissa Farmiga, any day, she is incredible.
Kinda strange how they are using the same actors to play different characters. It will be interesting to see how it turns out!