File this news under things we can't wait to see after quarantine: Ryan Murphy announced on Instagram that an American Horror Story spinoff series is in the works. Titled American Horror
Stories, the anthology will feature "16 one hour standalone episodes," he teased on Twitter. The project was unveiled and discussed during a virtual AHS cast meeting, and is set to live on FX on Hulu alongside shows like Mrs. America and the new miniseries A Teacher. In November, Murphy unveiled the show's creepy official poster:
— Ryan Murphy (@MrRPMurphy) November 12, 2020
Here's everything we know about the spinoff series, including which American Horror Story alum will be directing an episode and a look at the official poster.
The series will tell a different horror tale each episode.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new show will highlight a different horror story with every episode. Murphy announced plans for American Horror Stories on Instagram, clarifying that each episode would tell its own separate story. (Murphy has since made his 'gram private, so the post isn't embedded here.)
“American Horror Story cast zoom call...where we reminisced about the good times...the spin-off we're doing called American Horror Stories (one hour contained episodes)...when we will start filming the next season of the mothership...and other stuff I cannot print. It was so much fun and I'm glad we caught up. I miss everyone," Murphy, who created the series, captioned a screenshot of the call posted to Instagram on May 11. The co-stars pictured include Jessica Lange, Lily Rabe, Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Denis O'Hare, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Emma Roberts, Angelica Ross, Leslie Grossman, Finn Wittrock, Taissa Farmiga, Billie Lourd, Dylan McDermott, Adina Porter, and Cody Fern. (What we wouldn't do to get that Zoom invite...)
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Ryan Murphy (@mrrpmurphy) on
Fan-favorite AHS actors are expected to guest star.
Along with the new poster, Murphy tweeted a few additional details about American Horror Stories. "It's the AHS spin off. We are doing 16 one hour stand alone episodes delving into horror myths, legends and lore...many of these episodes will feature AHS stars you know and love. More to follow..." he wrote.
It's the AHS spin off. We are doing 16 one hour stand alone episodes delving into horror myths, legends and lore...many of these episodes will feature AHS stars you know and love. More to follow...
— Ryan Murphy (@MrRPMurphy) November 12, 2020
Murphy didn't offer additional details about who could be showing up or what the episodes would be about, but this tweets offered the most significant tease of the spinoff to date.
Sarah Paulson will direct an episode.
No casting announcements have been made regarding the show, but one AHS alum has confirmed her behind-the-scenes involvement. During a panel for her Murphy Netflix series Ratched, Paulson confirmed she'll be directing an episode of American Horror Stories. “What can I say? I’ll be directing something,” Paulson teased, via Deadline. She didn't divulge further details about the installment's storylines or which episode she'd be working on.
It'll be awhile before American Horror Stories premieres.
"The series had been getting a lot of momentum just before the pandemic shut down Hollywood production in mid-March," Deadline noted about the project. This unfortunately means it may be awhile before we can watch the new show. The next taste of AHS will come when the 10th season premieres in 2021. It's "about reuniting fan-favorite actors to come back…I’ve been quietly reaching out to various people," Murphy told Deadline in November 2019. Season 10 will feature Paulson, Evans, and Bates, among others, plus the highly-anticipated return of Macaulay Culkin to the screen. Some have even mused that Ariana Grande will make an appearance in the upcoming season—or possibly the new spinoff?