Denis O’Hare Heading to American Horror Story: Hotel? Ryan Murphy Reveals More Details!
“American Horror Story” creator Ryan Murphy recently sat down for a rather in-depth chat with Deadline about the next installment, “AHS: Hotel,” in which he revealed that the powers-that-be are “finalizing Denis O’Hare’s deal; he’s going to come back.”
To that we say, “Yay! How about some more details?” Murphy complied by offering the following:
Considering the cast, should we expect some musical numbers in “Hotel” like we got in “Freak Show”? “We did some musical numbers [in ‘Freak Show’] that were different and original and weird, and I really enjoyed them. I think that we’ll never do that again. This season there’s not a number to be had… The interesting thing is we cast a lot of singers this season, but I like that singers, for the most part, are always great actors because they know how to sell a story through song, through a scene. I’m excited about that, and I think that’s why Gaga was excited about it; it’s not something that she’s ever done before. It’s a pure acting part. I think people expect that she’s going to be sitting in a bar in a white silk gown sort of singing songs — she is not. The upcoming season that we’re doing is much more horror-based; it’s much more dark. It’s about a theme and an idea that’s very close to my heart that I’ve always wanted to do that’s a little bloodier and grislier I think than anything that we’ve done before; it’s straight horror this year.”
When asked about the inspiration for “Hotel,” Murphy responded, “It’s based [on] the hotel in horror movies and horror tropes. We’ve researched several real-life hotels in downtown LA where absolutely horrifying things happened. ‘Murder House,’ I thought, was a very primal season because everybody’s great fear is about the bogeyman under the bed in their house, and this feels similar to me in that when you check into a hotel, there are certain things beyond your control. Other people have the keys to your room; they can come in there. You’re not exactly safe; it’s a very unsettling idea.”
As for what we can expect this season, “We start shooting in three weeks, and we’re building this incredible… six-story Art Deco hotel on the Fox lot. Everybody in the show is very excited about this season, Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters particularly because in every season thus far they’ve always been sort of the heroes, the good guy or the good lady so to speak, and this season they’re playing absolute evil villains so they’re very excited about that and I think people will really enjoy it. And the Gaga part is bananas good.”
He added, “I also think that the thing that’s different about the season is that before we’ve always been very driven by the Jessica Lange character. She was always the lead character. This year it’s a true ensemble, and I think we have more male parts and more male stories. The Wes Bentley part is really big, the Matt Bomer part is really big; Evan Peters and Finn Wittrock are really big. That’s not to say that the women aren’t either; I mean Kathy Bates and Gaga and Paulson’s part and Angela Bassett’s part are great. But I guess it’s a different tone this year than we’ve had.”
Speaking of Ms. Lange, might she some day return to the “AHS” universe? Murphy teased, “Well, all I can say about that [is] never say ‘never’ with Jessica… I think if I went to Jessica and I had an amazing role, I think she would do it. I think she wanted some time off, but Jessica is somebody that is always about the role, in every season on this show… I think if I came up with something extraordinary for her, if I could come up with a great character, she’s all about that, and she’s told me that, if you have something great after I sort of get my rest, then let’s keep talking, so I’ll do that.”
Along with O’Hare (assuming he returns), the cast for “American Horror Story: Hotel” includes Lady Gaga, Matt Bomer, and Finn Wittrock in a lovers’ triangle plus Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Chloe Sevigny, Evan Peters, Wes Bentley, Angela Bassett, Max Greenfield, and Cheyenne Jackson.
For more info visit the “American Horror Story” Facebook page, and follow @AHSFX on Twitter along with “American Horror Story” on FX.
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