Ryan Murphy knows how to generate buzz. In a video posted on Instagram, the creator of American Horror Story unveiled the cast of its thirteenth season—and, needless to say, he went all out.
Fans will recognize several familiar faces who have become staples over the years: Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Angela Bassett, Leslie Grossman, Billie Lourd, and Gabourey Sidibe will all be back for this new batch of episodes.
The real surprise of this announcement, however, is the long-awaited return of Jessica Lange. Absent since Season 8 (Apocalypse), in which she made a brief appearance, Jessica Lange has not held a regular role since 2014’s Freak Show.
And that’s not all! Ariana Grande is joining the cast, too. Although the singer and actress has never appeared in American Horror Story before, she has collaborated with Ryan Murphy on Scream Queens, another offbeat, horror-themed series.
Not much has been revealed about the plot, but Ryan Murphy‘s video features a now iconic phrase from the series: “Surprise, bitch. I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me.” This suggests that the new season may be linked to the witches of Coven. We’ll find out on Halloween 2026 when season 13 airs if it’s the case.
