Updated

Updated · Bleeding Cool News · Aug 6

Ryan Murphy Maps Out American Horror Story Season 14 as Season 13 Nears Sept. 24 Premiere

Updated

Updated · Bleeding Cool News · Aug 6

Ryan Murphy Maps Out American Horror Story Season 14 as Season 13 Nears Sept. 24 Premiere

Q: Ariana Grande exited AHS Season 13 due to scheduling, but what mysterious role was the pop star originally slated to play in the horror anthology?

It has not been publicly revealed. The reporting around Ariana Grande’s exit says her planned *American Horror Story* Season 13 part was kept under wraps, and Murphy has only described it as a potentially significant idea he could revisit in a future season. What is known is that Grande was expected to make her franchise debut in the crossover-style Season 13, but she did not film any scenes because the production schedule conflicted with her tour and album commitments. Murphy said the departure was purely logistical, not creative, and suggested the role—or a version of the concept—could return later if her availability aligns. Grande herself had previously said she would likely have “a very tiny thing” to do in the season, but neither FX nor Murphy disclosed the character’s identity or storyline.

Q: With Jessica Lange returning for an 'Avengers-style' AHS crossover, who is the 'ultimate evil' forcing these iconic characters to finally unite?

No “ultimate evil” has been officially identified yet. Ryan Murphy has only said that Season 13 is an “Avengers”-style crossover in which characters from across *American Horror Story* unite to face “the ultimate evil,” but he has not publicly named that force. That has fueled speculation among fans because the season is bringing back major *Coven* and *Apocalypse* figures, including Jessica Lange as Constance Langdon, Fiona Goode, Sister Jude and Elsa Mars, along with Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters in multiple returning roles. Given that setup, some viewers have wondered whether Cody Fern could return as Michael Langdon, the Antichrist from *Apocalypse*, since he is one of the franchise’s clearest large-scale villains. But there is no confirmation that Cody Fern is back, and no report from Murphy, FX or Hulu has tied him to Season 13. Current confirmed returnees include Lange, Paulson, Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, Leslie Grossman, John Carroll Lynch, Mena Suvari and others, while Ariana Grande exited because of scheduling conflicts. So, for now, the honest answer is that the “ultimate evil” remains under wraps. Michael Langdon is a plausible fan theory, but it is still only a theory until Murphy or the network confirms it.

3 articles · Updated · Bleeding Cool News · Aug 6

Season 14 is already being developed, with Ryan Murphy saying he is now working out the concept and who might join the next installment.
FX backing remains firm: Murphy said John Landgraf has told him the network will keep airing American Horror Story as long as he wants to keep making it.
Season 13, premiering Sept. 24, hinged on Jessica Lange's return; Murphy said he likely would not have made it without her signing on to play four fan-favorite characters.
Ariana Grande left Season 13 because of tour and album commitments after finishing Wicked, Murphy said, adding he could revisit the idea in a future season if schedules align.
The anthology, launched in 2011, has topped 100 Emmy nominations and 700 million streaming hours, underscoring why FX is keeping the franchise alive.