Ryan Murphy’s new anthology series, American Horror Stories, will feature a new variety of cast and characters while also involving a few returning faces from American Horror Story. While only the plurality of one word separates the titles, American Horror Stories is not the same as the American Horror Story series and is considered a spin-off. The main way the series differ is that American Horror Story follows a new horror scenario each season, while American Horror Stories will introduce a new story in each episode.
The first episode of American Horror Stories premieres on July 15th and is available to watch through FX and Hulu. Murphy revealed via Twitter that the new series will take on standalone episodes that focus on horror mythology, legends, and lore. Some new faces in the cast will include Paris Jackson, Kaia Gerber, Aaron Tveit, Glee actor Kevin McHale, and Danny Trejo in the confirmed role of Santa Claus.
Murphy teased that several recognizable AHS faces will appear in the spin-off, but only a few have been confirmed so far. While it’s unknown if Sarah Paulson will portray a character in the new series, she’ll be involved behind the camera as a director. Here are all of the confirmed AHS actors who will be returning for American Horror Stories.
Billie Lourd
Daughter of Star Wars icon Carrie Fisher, Billie Lourd debuted on American Horror Story in the seventh season, AHS: Cult, as Winter. She also returned for American Horror Story’s 8th and 9th seasons and is set to reappear in the 10th, AHS: Double Feature. Ryan Murphy confirmed that Lourd will appear in American Horror Stories’ fifth episode as Liv Whitley, though it’s unclear what horror elements her storyline will contain.
John Carroll Lynch
If American Horror Stories follows the trend of his past American Horror Story characters, John Carroll Lynch will likely appear as a psychopathic killer. Lynch previously appeared in the AHS: Freak Show, Hotel, Cult, and 1984 as the serial killers Twisty the Clown, John Wayne Gacy, and Mr. Jingles. He is set to play the role of Larry Bitterman in American Horror Stories’ third episode.
Naomi Grossman
Naomi Grossman is notable in the American Horror Story universe for portraying the fan-favorite Pepper in AHS: Asylum and Freak Show. She later returned in the 8th season as Samantha Crowe, a satanist who meets Michael Langdon. Grossman will be portraying Rabid Ruth in American Horror Stories’ third episode, “Drive In,” about a movie screening that goes awry.
Matt Bomer
Ryan Murphy collaborator Matt Bomer will appear in two episodes of American Horror Stories as Michael. The episodes Bomer is featured in are Rubber (Wo)man parts 1 and 2, which take up the first two slots of the season. Previously, Bomer appeared in Murphy’s show Glee as Blaine’s brother Cooper Anderson plus two seasons of American Horror Story as Andy in Freak Show and the main role of Donovan opposite Lady Gaga in AHS: Hotel.
Charles Melton
Before his rise to fame as Reggie on Riverdale, Charles Melton appeared in minor roles on a few series created by Ryan Murphy. His first acting gig was as a model in a season 5 episode of Glee before moving up to the recurring role of Mr. Wu on American Horror Story: Hotel. Melton will play Wyatt on the fourth episode of American Horror Stories, “The Naughty List,” which the synopsis says will follow a group of influencers who face consequences after posting a problematic video.
Chad James Buchanan
Chad James Buchanan has had a few prior collaborations with creator Ryan Murphy on an episode of Glee in 2014 and American Horror Story: Apocalypse’s premiere episode “The End” as Stu. Buchanan will appear in the same American Horror Stories episode as Billie Lourd halfway through the season, though his character’s name and capacity have not yet been revealed.