American Horror Story Season 13 Opens With Three Episodes and Returning Favourites
American Horror Story is back for season 13 with a three-episode launch and a mix of new faces and familiar witches.
The season, simply titled “13”, premiered 24 September at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on FX and Hulu, with its first three episodes dropping together, according to Forbes and The Hollywood Reporter. Those openers are titled “13”, “1:13 AM” and “Rauhnacht”.
It is a short season in short bursts. The run is 13 half-hour episodes. Viewers will not wait week by week for single instalments at the start. The Thursday after the premiere will also carry three episodes, according to People.
New viewers have a clear way in. Joey Pollari plays Ben, described as the audience entry point. Madelaine Petsch plays Kira, Ben’s girlfriend. Avantika joins as a new character named Ophelia.
Then the doors to the past open. Emma Roberts returns as Madison Montgomery. Sarah Paulson returns as Supreme Cordelia Goode from Coven, with both characters seen at Miss Robichaux’s Academy.
Jessica Lange is back too. She reprises Constance Langdon from season one, now living on the 13th floor of a New York City apartment building called the Apollyon. Elsewhere, Fedor Steer plays Mr. Nas in his older years, with Paul Anthony Kelly playing Young Nas.
Co-creator Ryan Murphy told The Hollywood Reporter ahead of release that the season is not a sequel but “a different story with characters that you love returning”. He said the returning characters are united against a big villain touched on in other seasons.
The date moved forward. The season had originally been indicated for around Halloween 2026 before FX set 24 September as the official launch, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Ahead of the debut, Murphy also discussed the all-star season and Ariana Grande’s exit in a Hollywood Reporter interview published 6 August, in which he said he is seriously considering doing more Glee.
For fans, this means plenty to catch up on fast. Three episodes down. Ten to go.
