‘American Horror Story’ Returns to Its Roots With ‘Apocalypse’

Ryan Murphy recently announced the return of Jessica Lange, Gabourey Sibide, and White Witch Stevie Nicks.

News of American Horror Story’s return has been known for some time now, but rumors have been swirling as to whom audiences will see and to what story will be followed. It seems fans are in luck, as a number of AHS regulars have been added to the cast list for the show’s eighth installment, Apocalypse.

Perhaps even more worthy of anticipation is the revisiting of the original season, Murder House, which kicked off all the fantastical displays of blood, guts, and gore to follow.

The show’s creator and executive producer, Ryan Murphy, tweeted the latest casting news this week, stating he’s “so thrilled the family is together again!” And so he should be. The roster so far confirmed is one hell of a crazy-talented acting family.

Guess who's coming back for AHS APOCALYPSE? Taissa Farmiga, Gabourey Sidibe, Lily Rabe, Frances Conroy and….Stevie Nicks. So thrilled the family is together again! #AHSApocalypse

— Ryan Murphy (@MrRPMurphy) August 7, 2018

Jessica Lange is perhaps the most notorious of AHS veterans having been the standout matriarch in the first four seasons of the show. From 2011 to 2015, Lange excelled in her roles as Constance Langdon (Murder House), Sister Jude (Asylum), Fiona Goode (Coven), and Elsa Mars (Freak Show), winning a Golden Globe for her part in Murder House. Her absence from the anthology since has been duly missed. Carrying an enigma ranging from the baddest witch in the entire coven to a broken-down, deranged nun set her apart from the others and reinstated her as the star of the show.

Her embodiment of what AHS originally was — cutting, cold, cool, and at times, a little bit freakish — was what gave the first four seasons the edge that the latest additions to the anthology just haven’t been able to replicate. Arguably the returnee that fans have been most excited about, Lange needn’t feel pressure upon her shoulders about reprising her role of Constance Langdon in Apocalypse. Each scene she’s in practically revolves around the spirit she exudes, and with the other cast members announced, the elements of Lange’s performance should only be elevated.

The narrative of Apocalypse is to be informed by previous happenings throughout the anthology. Set to be a crossover of Season 1 (Murder House) and Season 3 (Coven), Apocalypse will see the dysfunctional Langdon family again taking center stage. As always, trailers in the run-up to the season’s release are anticipated by audiences, and this time was no exception. A skin-crawling 45-second teaser released this week hints towards the appearance of gruesome Tate Langdon’s (Evan Peters) son Michael Langdon, who was the result of rape upon Vivien Harmon (Connie Britton). Lange will play Tate’s mother and so Michael’s grandmother, while also slipping into the role of a coven witch.

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