At Friday night's PaleyFest, Ryan Murphy and the cast of last season's American Horror Story: Coven chatted about the recently-wrapped season. But you watched Coven; you want to know about Freak Show, the next season of FX's anthology series.
The biggest news was that a new actor was joining the fold. Michael Chiklis (The Shield, Fantastic Four) will be the male lead of Freak Show. We have heard hints and snippets about what season four will hold, but now we have a (slightly) more definitive idea. Jessica Lange stars as a German ex-pat who manages one of the last remaining freak shows in Jupiter, Florida in 1950. I have to imagine that this season will, at least partly, be inspired by Gibsonton, Florida, a popular destination for circus performers during the off season. Chiklis will play the ex-husband of Kathy Bates' character, and father to Evan Peters' character - both actors will return for their second and fourth seasons, respectively. Bates and Peters, along with returning actors Sarah Paulson, Angela Bassett, and Frances Conroy, will play circus performers who were "saved" by Lange. Gabourey Sidibe and Jamie Brewer will also return to the series "in some capacity." Denis O'Hare and Emma Roberts are also in talks to return. Ryan Murphy also promised that some actors from the first two seasons, Murder House and Asylum will return.
American Horror Story: Freak Show will shoot in New Orleans, and is scheduled to premiere on FX this October.
