While you may have thought you’d seen the last of her, Emma Roberts (Nancy Drew, Scream Queens) is back to her old American Horror Story stomping grounds for the FX series’ upcoming 13th season. The actress was featured in video on Ryan Murphy’s (Glee, Pose) Instagram profile, poised and turned to face the camera with her iconic series line – “Surprise b****. I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me.”
View the reel below, via Murphy’s Instagram profile.
The caption announces Roberts’ return as her character Madison Montgomery from season three (also known as AHS: Coven) in season 13, also including a hint at a slated release for the month of September.
This season is setting up a reunion for multiple series characters, as well as their cornerstone actors – mxdwn reported previously on the announced return of Evan Peters (Mare of Easttown, Dahmner – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story) and Jessica Lange (Cape Fear, A Streetcar Named Desire), highlighting the massive cast for this installment of the iconic horror franchise. Roberts’ return was posted on Murphy’s Instagram just days after Lange appeared in an earlier post marking the start of production.
After Lange’s first-look shot, Murphy posted announcing Sarah Paulson’s (Ratched, Glass) return to the series as Cordelia Goode, also from AHS: Coven. Featuring Paulson posing in front of a recognizable set from that third season, the caption states; “And yes we have rebuilt the entire Robichaux Academy [referencing the main setting for AHS: Coven].” Here, the 13th season is stated to be coming this September. Lange, Paulson, and Peters have each held major roles throughout the series since its inception, with Roberts joining in 2013 and reoccurring in subsequent seasons.
The anticipation is killer this Spring to see who will come back to American Horror Story, and who they will be. Previously announced main cast members include; Kathy Bates (Annie, Matlock), Angela Bassett (9-1-1, Black Panther), Leslie Grossman (What I Like About You, Popular), Billie Lourd (Scream Queens, The Last Showgirl), and Gabourey Sidibe (Empire, Difficult People). All were prior members of the fan-favorite third season – Bates and Bassett having played Madame Delphine LaLaurie and Marie Laveau respectively, and Grossman, Lourd, and Sidibe having played either coven members or appeared in seasons other than AHS: Coven.
Notably, announced newcomers to season 13 include musician Ariana Grande (Wicked, Wicked: For Good) and cult filmmaker John Waters (Hairspray, Cry-Baby).
mxdwn also previously reported in late February that Roberts would star in a TV reimagining of ‘Bride Wars’ for Peacock, still in development. She is repped by Sweeny Entertainment and lawyer JR McGinnis.
The 13th season of American Horror Story is currently filming and in production with an anticipated September/October premiere on FX. All prior seasons are currently available for streaming on Hulu.