AsAmerican Horror Storyprepares for its 13th season, there have been many rumors about which original actors could return, and I’m disappointed about the return of one of them, but there’s a way around it. Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s horror anthology TV seriesAmerican Horror Storyhas dominated the genre on TV for over a decade. Despite recent seasons not having the same success as past ones,American Horror Storycontinues to be quite popular, so much so that it was renewed for a 13th season after the underwhelming 12th season,Delicate.
Each season ofAmerican Horror Storycovers a different horror theme with different characters, though many of these have been revealed to be connected somehow.American Horror Storyhas also created its own connected universe, with one season being the connecting thread between many. Althoughplot details aboutAmerican Horror Storyseason 13are currently unknown, a lot has been said about the original actors who could return – and though now there’s no hope for one, in particular, there’s still a way to have them around.
Jessica Lange Isn’t Open To Returning To American Horror Story Season 13
No More Jessica Lange In American Horror Story
One of the most beloved originalAmerican Horror Storyactors is Jessica Lange. Lange joinedAmerican Horror Storyin its first season,Murder House, where she played Constance Langdon, a character she would go on to reprise in season 8,Apocalypse. Despite not being the recurring actor who has appeared the most inAmerican Horror Story, Lange’s image has been inevitably linked to the show, and with good reason.Lange’s performances are some of the best things of the seasons she starred in, with her role as Sister Jude inAsylumstanding out.
How Jessica Lange Ranks Her Seasons Of American Horror Story
When pressed for a ranking of her American Horror Story seasons, Lange went beyond just her performance and discussed each season as a whole.
At the time of writing,American Horror Storyhas only been renewed for season 13, so it has been theorized that it could be the show’s final season. Whether that’s true or not, it has been a long time since Lange appeared inAmerican Horror Storyand it would be great to have her back in season 13 – unfortunately, she doesn’t share that feeling. Speaking toSPINat the premiere of her new movie Long Day’s Journey Into Night,Lange was asked about the possibility of her return toAmerican Horror Storyseason 13, and she had a very blunt and disappointing answer.
Lange said “oh Christ, no” and reiterated that she wouldn’t return for season 13even if it was the final season with a simple and direct “no.” With that, Lange has ended all hope I had for her return inAmerican Horror Storyseason 13, and her response was too direct and honest to be one of those cases where the actor wants to mislead the audience.
Why Jessica Lange Hasn’t Returned To American Horror Story Since Season 8
Jessica Lange’s Last Appeared In American Horror Story: Apocalypse
Jessica Lange was part of five seasons ofAmerican Horror Story:Murder Houseas Constance Langdon,Asylumas Sister Jude,Covenas Fiona Goode,Freak Showas Elsa Mars, andApocalypseas Constance once more, though this time as a special guest cast member. This means thatLange hasn’t had a lead role inAmerican Horror StorysinceFreak Show, but even though her blunt answer to returning to season 13 might give a different idea, there’s no bad blood between Lange and Murphy and Falchuk.
Lange’s time inAmerican Horror Storywas always meant to end with season 4, but her return inApocalypsewasn’t in her plans.
Speaking toDeadlinein 2015, Lange shared that she originally only agreed to join the show for just one season, and because she had a great time doing it, she agreed to return for three more seasons. Lange’s time inAmerican Horror Story, then, was always meant to end with season 4, but her return inApocalypsewasn’t in her plans. Lange toldThe Wrapin 2019 that Murphy convinced her to return by telling her about Constance’s relationship with the children, her substance-use disorder, and her death.
Lange hasn’t returned as a main or guest star cast member sinceApocalypseand all of her characters inAmerican Horror Storyare officially dead, so there hasn’t been a chance for her to reprise her roles. After hearing her blunt reaction to a return to the show for what could be the final season, it doesn’t seem like Murphy could convince her to one more time.
American Horror Story Season 13 Without Jessica Lange Would Be Disappointing
American Horror Story Season 13 Won’t Have A Complete Reunion Of Original Actors
Although it’s not official, there’s a lot of speculation aboutAmerican Horror Storyseason 13 being the show’s final season,which would be very fitting. At the time of writing, no cast members have been confirmed forAmerican Horror Storyseason 13, nor has the season’s horror theme been announced or teased, but following the thought of it being the final season, there are someoriginalAHSactorsthat would be great to see again.
If Peters and Paulson truly return and it’s the final season, it’s going to be very disappointing not having one of the best original actors back.
Speculation of season 13 being the show’s last only grew whenMurphy revealed Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson were in talks to return, but there haven’t been any updates since then. No other originalAmerican Horror Storyactors have been revealed to be in talks or consideration for season 13, but Peters and Paulson are two names strong enough to make me and many others believe there could be hope for a Jessica Lange return – and if Peters and Paulson truly return and it’s the final season, it’s going to be very disappointing not having one of the best original actors back.
American Horror Story Season 13 Can Still Honor Jessica Lange (Without Her Return)
American Horror Story Is A Connected Universe
Even without Jessica Lange inAmerican Horror Story, season 13 can still honor her. The reason why Lange’s Constance was brought back inApocalypseis because that was the season that confirmed some (if not all) seasons are connected, and Constance was key to that link. As mentioned above,all of Lange’s characters are dead, but season 13 can still make a couple of references to them, which shouldn’t be difficult. The legend of Murder House and what Tate Langdon did are known across the universe ofAmerican Horror Story, so mentioning Constance is possible.
Sister Jude left her mark at Briarcliff and Fiona was once the coven’s Supreme, which automatically makes her a legend among witches inAmerican Horror Story.The story of Elsa Marsbefore and after her Freak Show is quite tragic, and it could be referenced in season 13. I don’t lose hope in Ryan Murphy using the right words again to convince Jessica Lange to return toAmerican Horror Story, but for now, it’s disappointing that she won’t be in season 13.
