The fifth iteration of FX’s American Horror Story hasn’t yet filmed enough Hotel footage for a proper trailer, but Ryan Murphy and the expansive cast took to TCA with plenty of new details on the fall premiere. Not only do we know what each character will be, we’ve also learned that past Horror Story characters will check in over time. Plus, free poster!

Each cast member went down the line one-by-one to preview their characters, save for the absent Lady Gaga, who herself will play the hotel’s owner, Elizabeth. “She is a very wealthy social doyenne who is consumed with art, fashion and people and she has a nefarious plan that is revealed in the first episode that plays out over the season.”

Freak Show star Finn Wittrock will play male model Tristan Duffy, who “finds the biggest high in Lady Gaga, and they have a lot to do together.” Newcomer Cheyenne Jackson will play New York fashion icon Will Drage, who comes to L.A. to reestablish himself, while franchise vet Denis O’Hare will play “Elizabeth Taylor,” or rather a man working at the bar who finds enough inspiration in the figure to shave himself all over. Let’s follow that visual with a nice poster!

American Horror Story Hotel Poster
FX
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Fellow Freak Show alum Wes Bentley will play Detective John Lowe, while Asylum escapee Chloe Sevigny will play his wife Alex, the two having “had a great loss” in their family. Bomer will play Donovan, a Hotel Cortez figure associated largely with Gaga and others’ characters, in that “He has very interesting relationships with the lady folk in his life.”

Keep going? Sure! Angela Bassett will play actress and occasional hotel patron Ramona Royal, who is said to have a “real nasty relationship” with Gaga and Wittrock’s characters. Kathy Bates will play hotel manager Iris, noted to be close with Bomer, Bentley and O’Hare’s characters, though antagonistic with Sarah Paulson’s “Hypodermic Sally.”

There’s also a bit of mystery on that front, as Paulson noted of her character that she “hates Iris in a rather ancient way for reasons that will be revealed quickly.” And speaking of mystery, we can expect characters from the past seasons to crop up around episodes 6 and 7, though what ties everyone together remains to be seen. Murphy also spoke to recreating the first season’s more “honest, primal” fears, adding that there would be a moodier, more noir vibe.

We won’t see any proper trailers just yet, but American Horror Story: Hotel premieres on October 7.

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