Jessica Lange will be back for American Horror Story season 13, and creator Ryan Murphy has opened up on their talks to make it happen.
Jessica Lange only agreed to return to American Horror Story if she got “a musical number”.
The 77-year-old actress stepped away from the terrifying anthology series after season four (Freak Show), but creator Ryan Murphy has been able to bring her back alongside the likes of Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters for the upcoming 13th run.
Ryan told Vogue magazine: “I think when you have a show like American Horror Story that has become so long-running and popular, you go back to the origin story of it.
“And Jessica, that first season, won every award on Earth. When I wanted to turn the show into an anthology, which at that time was really unheard of, she was the first to say, ‘Great.’ And then we had Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, and she did a little bit on Apocalypse.
“So I just thought the number 13 was infused with so much stuff in the horror genre, and I wanted to do a greatest hits season. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew that I could only do it with Jessica.”
He recalled having dinner with Jessica, who revealed that “everywhere she goes”, she is flooded with young AHS fans asking for autographs.
He added: “She said some funny thing about how, ‘Nobody comes up and wants to talk to [her] about Blue Sky or Tootsie. They just want to talk about American Horror Story.’
“That was the first time I had heard her talk about it in a very nostalgic, sentimental way. So I told her, ‘That’s funny. That’s why I wanted to meet you.’
“And I pitched her, and she said, ‘Great. I’m in as long as I have a musical number.’ And then from Jessica, I went to Sarah and Evan, and they all said yes instantly.”
The upcoming season has been described as almost a greatest hits of AHS, with Jessica reprising all four of her former characters, while Sarah will play six, and Evan Peters will take on five.
Meanwhile, Ryan revealed how he has had a blast getting to work with the veteran actress again.
He said: “I was thrilled to be able to direct Jessica like I had directed her in Season 1. I always act out all the parts.
“I’m like, ‘Can I just act this out for you?’ And I get to be the character I wrote, which she thinks is absolutely hilarious.
“Of course, I’m not a good actor, but it’s just to give her a sense of the movement and the rhythm. She’s the only actor I always work that way with.”
Jessica Lange had one demand for American Horror Story return
