Updated

Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 9

FX Sets Sept. 24 Premiere for American Horror Story: 13 as Ariana Grande Joins Returning Cast

Updated

Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 9

FX Sets Sept. 24 Premiere for American Horror Story: 13 as Ariana Grande Joins Returning Cast

Q: How will pop star Ariana Grande's mysterious character challenge the iconic witches of 'Coven' in the new season?

She likely will not challenge the witches at all, because the latest reporting says Ariana Grande is no longer set to appear in Season 13. While the initial announcement for the new “American Horror Story” season said Grande would join the cast in a mysterious new role, the more recent information indicates she bowed out because the show’s production schedule conflicted with her “Eternal Sunshine Tour.” If that holds, there is no Ariana Grande character in the finished season to confront the returning “Coven” figures. What is confirmed is that Season 13 is being framed as a return to the “Coven” mythology. Sarah Paulson is expected back as Cordelia Goode, Emma Roberts as Madison Montgomery, and Angela Bassett as Marie Laveau, with the season reportedly revisiting Robichaux Academy and expanding the witch bloodline and magical lore. Jessica Lange is also returning, with speculation around a “Murder House” connection. Because FX and the producers have kept plot specifics tightly under wraps, there was never any verified public detail about how Grande’s character would have interacted with the witches. The strongest evidence now suggests that storyline is no longer in play. So, rather than Ariana Grande challenging the iconic “Coven” witches, the season appears set to focus on the returning witch characters themselves and whatever new threat emerges around them.

Q: What sinister secret connects the New York 'Penthouse' to the franchise's most powerful witches and ghosts?

The “sinister secret” has not been officially disclosed, but the strongest reporting points to a haunted New York high-rise—described in rumors as “Penthouse” and in some reports as the Apollyon Hotel—as the central nexus linking *American Horror Story*’s returning witches and ghosts. What is confirmed is that Season 13 is set in New York City and is built around a major return to the franchise’s roots, especially the worlds of *Coven* and *Murder House*. Sarah Paulson is returning as Cordelia Goode, Emma Roberts as Madison Montgomery, Angela Bassett as Marie Laveau, and other witch-connected characters are expected back, while Jessica Lange is widely tied to Constance Langdon and Evan Peters to ghostly franchise lore. FX’s own rollout and set activity also support a continuation of the *Coven* storyline. The most credible interpretation is that the New York “Penthouse” is not just a setting but the supernatural meeting point where these characters converge. Trade and fan reporting suggest a multi-floor luxury building or hotel structure with a dark hidden history, possibly serving as a portal-like space or power center that draws both witches and spirits together. So, the answer is that the “Penthouse” appears to conceal a shared supernatural hub—likely a cursed New York building—connecting the franchise’s most powerful witches from *Coven* with iconic ghosts from *Murder House* and beyond. The exact mythology remains under wraps pending FX’s official reveal.

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 9

Sept. 24 is the premiere date for “American Horror Story: 13,” which FX will launch at 9 p.m. ET on FX and Hulu, with global streaming on Disney+.
FX is pitching the 13th installment as a return to the anthology’s roots, while keeping plot details under wraps and framing the season as a tribute to the franchise’s legacy.
Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett and Kathy Bates are among the returning stars, while Ariana Grande joins the “American Horror Story” universe for the first time.
July 23-26 at San Diego Comic-Con, FX will promote the season with themed ice cream trucks and teaser artwork on the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, building momentum ahead of the fall debut.