The closing night of PaleyFest, the annual festival celebrating the the casts and creators of popular and acclaimed TV shows, was dedicated to the FX drama series American Horror Story: Freak Show. While not much was revealed about what’s to come in Season 5 -- American Horror Story: Hotel -- there were a few tidbits and cast introductions.
Matt Bomer, who made a brief but memorable appearance in AHS: Freak Show, is the new male star of AHS: Hotel, alongside Lady Gaga. The actor, who has also previously worked with show co-creator Ryan Murphy on Glee and The Normal Heart, says that he can’t yet confirm or deny that his character will have a romantic relationship with Lady Gaga’s character, and would only say that the two have not met yet. However, he did say that he’s “ready to go to the deep end,” with whatever they want him to do for the show.
No location or time period was announced, but another new addition to AHS: Hotel is Cheyenne Jackson (30 Rock) who also previously worked with Ryan Murphy on Glee. He’s excited to be a part of the ensemble because it’s his absolute favorite show, and he was asked to be a part of it about a month ago. He signed on without knowing anything about what he’ll be doing on the show, but he said he's also ready to jump in with whatever it turns out to be.
After having said that she would be finished with the show after four seasons, it was a no-brainer that the question of whether Jessica Lange might have since changed her mind would come up. Lange says that, while she has loved doing the four characters she’s had the opportunity to play on AHS, and she’ll be working with Ryan Murphy on other things, and that her time on the show is done.
Executive Producer Tim Minear, who was also joined on the panel by Kathy Bates, Michael Chiklis, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Denis O’Hare and Finn Wittrock, said that American Horror Story: Asylum and AHS: Freak Show became connected the moment they came up with the character of Pepper.
And even though Jessica Lange said that she will not be releasing an album (though she has done some fabulous musical numbers on the show), Kathy Bates revealed that she actually sang a Courtney Love song on AHS: Freak Show. The scene was cut, but will not be forgotten, as it will appear on the DVD.
AHS: Hotel is definitely lining up a very interesting cast, with Lady Gaga, Matt Bomer and Cheyenne Jackson, all of whom will be joined by some of current and previous cast members from the AHS ensemble (though who exactly is not yet known). It certainly has the potential to be another much-talked about season.
