American Horror Story’ Season 8: Here’s Everything We Know Right Now
The only thing Ryan Murphy is better at than storytelling is deceiving. Which makes figuring out the details of his latest projects a real, well, project.
While the producer is usually extremely cagey about what lies ahead for his and Brad Falchuk’s FX anthology series “American Horror Story,” he has recently started to drop a few details about the next installment.
Though everything with Murphy could be a fake out or a misdirect, here are the few things about Season 8 we are semi-positive are possibly true. Maybe.
1. It is set in the future — “18 months” from last week, to be exact
At a pre-Emmy voting “for your consideration” panel last Friday night in Los Angeles, Murphy told the audience the season was set “18 months from today,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. (Back in January he said it would be set 10 to 20 years in the future, but fine.) The statement was made on April 6, 2018. So if we’re taking Murphy literally (which we should probably never do, but what the heck) we’re looking at Oct. 6, 2019. Which means …
2. The theme is possibly nuclear war
Based on that clue, TheWrap has a theory about just how Murphy plans to haunt you in Season 8. Redditor Gato1980 figured out that Oct. 6, 2019 is the 58th anniversary of the day President John F. Kennedy gave a speech instructing Americans to build nuclear bomb shelters. So Murphy could be throwing his actors into a not-so-distant future that sees the USA either in the midst of, or going to, nuclear war. Which means …
3. There is a solid chance it’s called “American Horror Story: Radioactive”
That nuclear war idea throws even more weight behind the much-buzzed about “Radioactive” label floating around the internet. And while Murphy himself won’t confirm one way or the other if that is in fact the title (and he’s been asked directly), 20th Century Fox did file a trademark application with the USPTO for “American Horror Story: Radioactive” on March 6. So, there’s that.
4. It includes the usual suspects
“American Horror Story” darlings Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and Kathy Bates (who took a year off after “Roanoke”) are all set to headline Season 8. Murphy has confirmed other familiar faces will include Cheyenne Jackson, Billy Eichner, Adina Porter and Leslie Grossman.
5. And some newcomers
Joan Collins has been confirmed as another lead this season, marking her first trip into Murphy land. And the creator has said he’s “talking” to Angelica Houston, though a representative for the actress declined to comment on her involvement with the FX series when reached by TheWrap last week.
6. We already have a few character details
Collins will be playing Peters’ grandmother, while the actor will be taking on a much lighter role after portraying the deeply disturbed Kai in season 7’s “Cult.” “Your part this year is a comedic part,” Murphy said at the panel on Friday. “You are our comedic and you play a hairstylist.”
7. The anthology series is going back to its roots
Unlike the realistic (well, as realistic as Murphy ever gets) “Cult,” the next installment will be “heightened,” Murphy told the panel. “It’s not necessarily as real and grounded as the past season. We’re sort of getting back to ‘Asylum’ and ‘Coven.’ It’s that tone. That’s the tone of it,” Murphy said, referencing Seasons 2 and 3, respectively.
8. Our leads will take their turn behind the camera
Paulson and Peters will be directing episodes for the yet-to-be-titled season, the creator said at the pre-Emmy voting event.
9. Production should begin this summer
Murphy added that filming will commence around June 16.
10. But we can’t tell you when it’s coming out
FX has yet to set a premiere date for Season 8.
