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American Horror Story Season 13 Sets September Premiere as Coven Witches Return

Sarah Paulson, Emma Roberts, Frances Conroy, Gabourey Sidibe, and more have reunited in New York as FX prepares the biggest American Horror Story cast reunion yet.

By FirstDrop TeamJul 10, 20264 min read

The witches are officially back, and fans finally know when American Horror Story will return.

FX has announced that American Horror Story Season 13 will premiere on Thursday, September 24, at 9 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. PT on FX and Hulu. The season is currently being promoted under the simple title American Horror Story: 13, leaning heavily into the unlucky number attached to the newest chapter.

The premiere date arrived alongside new images from production in New York City, where several familiar witches were spotted walking together through Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood.

Sarah Paulson was photographed back as Cordelia Goode, the reigning Supreme introduced during American Horror Story: Coven. She was joined by Emma Roberts as Madison Montgomery, Frances Conroy as Myrtle Snow, Gabourey Sidibe as Queenie, and Leslie Grossman as Coco St. Pierre Vanderbilt.

The group was also seen filming with several new additions to the series, including Avantika Vandanapu, model Alex Consani, and Grace Dumdaw. Their characters have not been revealed, although their appearance alongside the returning witches suggests they could be connected to the newest generation of the coven.

Charlie Carver, who previously appeared in American Horror Story: NYC, was also photographed during production.

The return to the world of Coven has been building for several months.

Series creator Ryan Murphy previously shared the first official image of Paulson back in costume as Cordelia. Murphy also confirmed that the production had rebuilt Miss Robichaux’s Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies, the New Orleans school that served as the center of Coven and later returned during Apocalypse.

Emma Roberts was later confirmed to be returning as Madison Montgomery, one of the most recognizable characters from the third season. Roberts previously reprised the role during American Horror Story: Apocalypse, which connected the witches to the larger story surrounding Michael Langdon and the end of the world.

Season 13 is bringing back considerably more than the Coven cast.

Jessica Lange is returning to American Horror Story after last appearing during Apocalypse. Ryan Murphy marked the beginning of production by releasing an official image of Lange on set, although FX has not fully explained how her character will fit into the season.

The announced cast also includes Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Billie Lourd, Ariana Grande, Paul Anthony Kelly, John Waters, Joey Pollari, John Carroll Lynch, Matt Fraser, Mena Suvari, and Berto Colón. Several actors are expected to reprise characters from earlier installments, while others will enter the American Horror Story universe for the first time.

Ariana Grande is one of the most notable newcomers. Her appearance creates a small Scream Queens reunion with Emma Roberts and Billie Lourd, who starred alongside Grande in the Ryan Murphy series.

Filmmaker John Waters has also joined the cast in an undisclosed role. Paul Anthony Kelly, who recently played John F. Kennedy Jr. in FX’s Love Story, is another newcomer whose character remains a mystery.

FX has not released an official plot synopsis, but the returning characters make it clear that Season 13 will be more connected to earlier stories than a typical standalone installment.

The return of Cordelia, Madison, Myrtle, Queenie, and Coco places the Coven mythology at the center of the season. Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, and several other returning stars could also allow the story to revisit characters and locations from Murder House, Freak Show, Hotel, and Apocalypse.

Photo Credit: Gettyimages
Photo Credit: Gettyimages

The new set photos appear to show the witches operating together in New York rather than remaining inside New Orleans. Whether they are searching for someone, responding to a new threat, or expanding the coven remains unknown.

FX has also released the first key art for the season. The simple red poster combines the American Horror Story logo with a large black number 13 and confirms the September 24 premiere date.

American Horror Story will also have a major presence at San Diego Comic Con later this month.

FX is bringing four themed ice cream trucks to the convention as part of an experience called 13 Flavors. The trucks will serve treats inspired by earlier seasons while characters including Rubber Man, Twisty the Clown, and a witch from Coven appear for photos.

A separate Saturday evening event will lead fans to a secret location where FX plans to reveal a mysterious thirteenth flavor.

Between the returning witches, Jessica Lange’s comeback, Ariana Grande joining the cast, and characters from several different installments potentially crossing paths, Season 13 is shaping up to feel more like an American Horror Story reunion than another isolated chapter.

American Horror Story: 13 premieres September 24 on FX and Hulu.

/ More from FirstDrop