‘American Horror Story: 13’ Trailer Unleashes an Insane Reunion of the Show’s Most Iconic Villains

After years of giving fans new stories, new monsters, and new nightmares, ‘American Horror Story’ is finally bringing much of its past together. The upcoming 13th season, simply called ‘13,’ looks less like another standalone chapter and more like a giant reunion for some of the show’s most memorable characters.

The latest trailer gives fans a pretty good idea of what Ryan Murphy and the team have planned. Instead of focusing on one new group of characters, the season brings back faces from several previous seasons. Twisty the Clown is among the first familiar faces seen in the footage, while Jessica Lange returns as Constance Langdon. Evan Peters is back as Kai Anderson, Sarah Paulson appears as Cordelia Goode, Angela Bassett returns as Marie Laveau, and Emma Roberts steps back into the role of Madison Montgomery.

There is even another familiar figure hiding in the trailer. Rubber Man makes an appearance, adding another connection to the show’s early years. With characters from ‘Murder House,’ ‘Coven,’ ‘Cult,’ and ‘Freak Show’ all coming into the same story, this could be one of the biggest crossovers ‘American Horror Story’ has ever attempted.

Murphy has already made it clear that fans should not expect ‘13’ to simply be another ‘Coven’ follow-up. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, he explained just how large the reunion really is. “Everybody thinks it’s a Coven season and it’s not. It’s all the seasons,” Murphy said. He also revealed that Sarah Paulson will play six or seven characters, while Jessica Lange will take on four of her most famous roles. Evan Peters, meanwhile, will reportedly play five characters.

Murphy compared the whole idea to one of Marvel’s biggest crossover movies. “It is like the Avengers. They all come together to defeat the ultimate evil,” he told Entertainment Tonight. That description alone gives fans an idea of how wild the new season could become.

Lange’s return is especially important because she has not been a regular part of the series since leaving after the 2015 season. Her performances helped shape the identity of ‘American Horror Story’ during its early years, so seeing her return as several classic characters at once is a huge deal for longtime viewers.

She will not be the only returning star. Kathy Bates, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, Leslie Grossman, Frances Conroy, Jamie Brewer, and Mena Suvari are also returning in familiar roles. The new season is adding some new faces too. Paul Anthony Kelly, Avantika, Joey Pollari, and John Waters are among the new additions. Kelly, who also appeared in Murphy’s ‘Love Story,’ can be seen in the trailer in a blonde wig, although his exact role remains a mystery.

FX has also revealed that the season will have a strange connection to the number 13 itself. The network’s official description promises a story that will “do justice to everyone’s most feared number.” The season will contain 13 half-hour episodes, making the title more than just a simple reference to the show’s season count.

The release plan is unusual as well. The first week will bring three episodes, followed by another three episodes the next week. After that, two episodes will arrive each week until the finale on October 29. That means the season will wrap up right around Halloween, which feels like the perfect timing for the show’s biggest horror reunion.

Production reportedly wrapped in July after filming began in April. According to the information released by FX and the comments Murphy gave to Entertainment Tonight, the goal seems clear: bring together the characters fans have spent years talking about and put them into one huge story.

For a series that has always been known for changing things up every season, ‘13’ is taking a very different approach. Instead of starting over, it is looking backward and pulling pieces from across the show’s history. If the trailer is any indication, fans are about to get a chaotic mix of killers, witches, villains, and supernatural figures all sharing the same nightmare.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.