Everything We Know So Far About American Horror Story: Hotel
BY JOANNA ROBINSON
Just a few short months ago Ryan Murphy announced Season 5 of American Horror Story with a splashy intro from his new star: Lady Gaga. Ever since then, information has been trickling in. Here’s a round-up of everything we know so far and our best guess as to how American Horror Story: Hotel will “radically reinvent” the gruesome FX series.
We Know Where and Probably When: There was some question as to where the 5th season might take place and though we don’t have official confirmation within the world of American Horror Story, we do know that production is moving out of Louisiana (where it has been for the past two seasons) and back to
Los Angeles.
Filming will start there in
early July. We also know that Season 5, like the previous odd-numbered seasons, will probably take place in
modern day America.
It’s All Connected: So what do you get when you combine horror, hotel, Los Angeles, and modern day? You get the frightening 2013 tale of Elisa Lam at the Hotel Cecil. The Canadian student was found drowned in a water tank, but a disturbing elevator surveillance video of her allegedly taken right before her death shows erratic behavior that some chalk up to drug use, and others to paranormal activity. Ryan Murphy has said before that the
seasons are all linked so the fact that the Hotel Cecil (which has since rebranded as Stay on Main) not only reportedly housed serial killers Richard Ramirez in 1985 and Jack Unterweger in 1991, but also
Beth Short a.k.a. The Black Dahlia would give Season 5 a connection to Season 1 where Short was played by actress Mena Suvari.
The Musical Theory: This part fall more into the “wishful thinking” than “we know for sure” camp, so I’ll be brief. But with the splashy casting of Lady Gaga, the possibility arose that American Horror Story Season 5 might fill the musical-shaped hole the cancellation of Glee left in Ryan Murphy’s heart. The confirmation from Ryan Murphy that the Top Hat motif in Season 4 was a massive “arcane” hint about Season 5 indicates that at the very least
dancing, a la Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the 1935 musical Top Hat, might be in the cards. As you’ll see below, Murphy has cast several great dancers (and some singers) for Season 5, so musical lovers get excited. Could a hotel-hosted dancing competition—a la Strictly Ballroom or even They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?—set the scene for the horrors of the fifth season?
Many Regulars Will Be Back: There was some concern, at first, that the departure of star Jessica Lange would cause American Horror Story irrevocable damage. That may still prove to be the case but even without Lange in the lead, Ryan Murphy has managed to get most of the band back together. The show’s next biggest stars,
Sarah Paulson and
Evan Peters, will return. Paulson reportedly gets to play a villain—or at least “the baddest bad girl of them all”—for the first time in her Horror Story tenure. Peters doesn’t get a character description, but Murphy promises his character will be “waiting in Room 64.” Permanent resident? Of the ghostly variety perhaps?
Newer regulars like
Kathy Bates and
Angela Bassett will also return. Bates’s character will run the hotel whereas Bassett will be making trouble “in the ballroom and elsewhere”. Sounds like either a poltergeist or a dancing competition. Both work for me.
Actors like
Wes Bentley,
Matt Bomer, and
Chloe Sevigny—who have all appeared in at least one previous season—will be back as series regulars for Season 5. Bomer implied that he might be a love interest for Lady Gaga’s character but, at the very least, he’ll be partnered with her for much of the shoot. Bomer, as we know, has some fantastic moves so fingers crossed for dancing partner.
There Are Some New Kids on the Block: There are some new faces alongside the familiar, returning ones. The big headline, of course, is
Lady Gaga. We’ve no clue on what her role will be, but we know it calls for platinum blonde hair.
Broadway star
Cheyenne Jackson—who previously worked with Murphy on Glee—was announced along with New Girl’s
Max Greenfield. Murphy teased that Greenfield will appear “like you’ve never seen him” and promised that though the actor would be checking in to the hotel, he won’t be checking out. You can cue up “Hotel California” any time now. Both Jackson and Greenfield, for the record, are solid dancers.
Here are the Maybes: Regular American Horror Story player
Emma Roberts is busy with Murphy’s other pulpy project Scream Queens but has said she thinks she’ll be joining Season 5 “at the end.” Another regular,
Denis O’Hare, says he hasn’t officially been asked back yet, but that he signed a two-year contract last season so could be called up at any moment. American Horror Story favorite
Frances Conroy will likely be too busy with Jason Reitman’s new series to join in the fun for Season 5 and there’s no word yet on
Lily Rabe—though she hasn’t said no—but if she came back to the American Horror Story fold, I’ve no doubt she’d bring her dancing moves.
http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/...ocial_facebook