New Details on American Horror Story Season 3, Including Returning Cast Members

Last night, Ryan Murphy gave a sneak peek of the American Horror Story: Asylum finale and took part in a Q&A session. Not only did he discuss the current season, but teased his plans for season 3 and confirmed a number of actors who are already set to return.

FX officially announced that the next cycle of American Horror Story would return later this year and that Jessica Lange would return. There was some confusion recently regarding Lange's involvement and Ryan Murphy confirmed that she is on board while teasing what we can expect from the next story:

via Collider: "The thing that I really wanted to do next season was something that’s funnier. I love this season and I think it was successful, but I really miss that Jessica Lange as Constance stuff, and I know she missed it, too. The only thing I’ll say about [Season 3] is that it’s a mixture of several cities, and it’s really about female power. I got Jessica to do it because I did everything she asked, which was the location, and I also told her that she would have complete hair and make-up and the best designer gowns, ever. She said, “Please don’t put me in a wimple again, ever!” So, she’s going to play a real glamour cat lady, in Season 3.

But, I’m just now meeting with a lot of actors, so I don’t want to say too much. They’re actors that Jessica wants to work with. She’s become a non-credited producer on Season 3. She loves doing this show and she loves the 13 episode nature of this, so she can go do films, theater or whatever. This was a very hard thing for her. She’s never played a character like this. I think she is the most sensual actress around, so to put her in a black thing with no make-up was [difficult]. But, she loved it, by the end of it. She loved [the finale]. But, you will see a very different [character next time]. It’s a modern-day story, next season, with her. I’m sorry, I can’t say more."

Ryan Murphy recently confirmed that he wanted Season 3 to be more of a Romeo & Juliet-type story and confirmed the romance focus last night. Here are his previous comments from EW:

“I mean, I don’t think anything could ever be as dark as the mental health care system in our country. I sorta feel like for the third version I want to do something that’s a little bit more “evil glamour.” Just something that’s a little bit more…one of the things that I missed this season was I really loved having that Romeo & Juliet youth story with Violet and Tate. I want something like that again and we’re doing something like that in the third season. And we’re contemplating shooting the show in a different place. We’re contemplating shooting it in a place in the country where true horror has been. We’ve got lots of delicious plans.”

Fans of the Season 1 and 2 cast will also be happy to hear that both Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters will be returning as well (via Deadline). As the next season is in the very early planning stages, we expect Ryan Murphy to bring others from the first two seasons back as well. When asked if Season 3 would have a central horror character such as Bloody Face or the Rubber Man, Murphy did tease that there will be one and it will be a female horror icon this time [via STYD].

Expect the next cycle of American Horror Story to premiere in October. Like Asylum, we probably won't hear too much more until August/September, but we'll be sure to report on any casting updates as they come in.