To the surprise of absolutely no one, FX has picked up its hit anthology series American Horror Story for a thirteen-episode fourth season, which is expected to debut next October.
American Horror Story has drawn consistently high ratings for FX and received countless awards since its premiere in 2011. Both its first season, subtitled Murder House, and its second, subtitled Asylum, were nominated for 17 Emmys and won two in their respective years. The third season, Coven, is currently airing to large numbers and critical acclaim on FX.
Like Murphy’s previous FX show, Nip/Tuck, American Horror Story is notorious for pushing the envelope with graphic violence and sexuality. So far this season on Coven, the show has explored slavery, mass murder, torture, hanging, gang rape and bestiality – and with eight episodes still to go, audiences will likely witness some even more gruesome plot developments further down the line.
The show is also well-known for its unconventional set-up and ensemble cast. American Horror Story uses many of the same actors in various seasons but always casts them as new characters in different time periods and stories. Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe and Frances Conroy have each appeared in all three seasons.
FX Networks CEO John Landgraf had this to say about the renewal:
Put simply, Ryan Murphy is a master television producer. Time and time again he reinvents the form. What … the entire production team and cast responsible for the American Horror Story franchise have done is nothing short of extraordinary. Every year, they create a riveting and brilliant new miniseries. AHS: Coven is the best yet, and I have no doubt that the next installment will be even better.
I’m a fan of American Horror Story‘s ballsy, ‘everything-but-the-kitchen-sink’ approach to storytelling, so I’m certainly excited to see what Murphy and co. have in store for fans next season. So far, the show has explored ghosts, demonic possessions, aliens, Nazi experiments, Frankenstein’s monster and witches, but there’s definitely a lot of supernatural ground left to cover in upcoming seasons. Personally, I’m pulling for werewolves, but one thing I’ve learned from Murphy’s shows is to always expect the unexpected.
Are you excited by this news? Tell us, what do you want to see American Horror Story tackle in season four? Sound off in the comments section!
