Comic-Con 2015: 'AHS' Season 5 Opens 'Hotel' for Business

American Horror Story heads into its fifth year, only the second at Comic-Con 2015, but already the Hotel is open for business in scaring up new scoop on the fall premiere as well as the debut of Ryan Murphy’s latest horror series, Scream Queens. What Horror-ful surprises lie in store for the cast and crew? We’re on hand with the American Horror Story panel at Comic-Con 2015 to find out!

In addition to the Scream Queens cast, American Horror Story fixtures atop the Hall H stage include Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Evan Peters, Matt Bomer, and Ryan Murphy himself.
Asked about the difficulty of using his lobster hands in Freak Show, Evan Peters admitted that he needed help cutting food, and occasionally even unzipping his fly.
Sarah Paulson offered that she had no preference between either of her Freak Show roles of Dot and Bette, as they were equal in her eyes. When fans of the panel later shouted “Supreme!” to her, she fired back “I am the Supreme, god damn it!”
Emma Roberts teased that Scream Queens wouldn’t necessarily affect her ability to return to American Horror Story, something we’ve heard rumblings of previously. Perhaps later in the season.
Angela Bassett jokes that she didn’t mind wearing the tri-boob prosthetic for Freak Show, as it got her a lot of attention, also noting that the character was originally written as male. Kathy Bates chimed in that she learned her famous Baltimore accent from a website that sang the National Anthem with it, before Bates sung a few bars herself. Bassett enjoyed working together with Bates on Freak Show equally as much as arguing with her on Coven.
Ryan Murphy also spoke to the increasing appeal of TV, in that he can cast actors for a season at a time, rather than lock them into seven-year contracts. That includes Jessica Lange, who could well return to the Horror Story franchise as she pleases.
No musical numbers for Hotel, particularly not for Lady Gaga, who specifically requested a role on the show, and preferably an evil one. Murphy noted that Gaga will shoot all her scenes in one specific block of time, while the singer will also work with the costume designers, as her part will involve some element of fashion.
As far as characters go this year, Matt Bomer plays a man named Donovan, Evan Peters plays Mr. March, Sarah Paulson will play “Hypodermic Sally” (and may not live through the season, either!), while Kathy Bates’ character will be named Iris.
Unsurprisingly, Sarah Paulson’s favorite AHS character to have played was Lana Winters.
There will be more character connections to draw through the seasons, linking Hotel to the rest of the American Horror Story universe. Might that include some past characters, even? Hmm…

Following the additions of New Girl star Max Greenfield, Cheyenne Jackson and Lady Gaga, the Hotel cast thus far includes returning Coven alum Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Asylum star Chloe Sevigny, Freak Show guests Finn Wittrock, Matt Bomer and Wes Bentley, and franchise regulars Evan Peters and Sara Paulson. Season 5 production on American Horror Story: Hotel will commence in California later this summer, but what other surprises lie in store for the remaining cast announcements? Will American Horror Story: Hotel live up to the hype this fall?