FX has announced the title and release date for the upcoming eighth season of its Emmy Award-winning horror anthology series American Horror Story.
Revealed today on the show’s social-media accounts, along with a creepy teaser image, American Horror Story: Apocalypse will premiere Sept. 12.
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This will be the first season to embrace a full-blown crossover with previous incarnations of the series. Characters and concepts introduced during the first season (“Murder House”) and the third season (“Coven”) will both appear, according to series creator Ryan Murphy. While each season has been typically a standalone affair, there have been references and cameos throughout the time periods and locations to suggest the entire series takes place in a single universe.
The promotional image for Season 8 depicts a crimson baby with claws instead of fingers, with a black hand reaching out for it. While that may seem like a crazy teaser for the uninitiated, it implies “Apocalypse” will follow up lingering plot threads from earlier seasons.
The first season, “Murder House,” centered on the Harmon family as they movde into the titular haunted home and ran afoul of the spirits inside. One of the plot twists introduced Michael, the only surviving member of the family. The one twin who survived the birth that killed his mother Vivien, Michael is the result of ghostly school shooter Tate raping Vivien earlier in the season. It was predicted Michael would be the Antichrist, and the final scene of “Murder House” hints at that, what with then 3-year-old Michael killing his nanny and all.
The third season, “Coven,” followed a group of young women as they joined a witches’ coven. Their mission was to train and figure who among them was the next Supreme (aka the most powerful witch in the world). The season went out on a similarly bloody note, with much of the coven dead. Ultimately it was the kindly teacher Cordelia, series regular Sarah Paulson, who became the new Supreme. Cordelia then pulled an Iron Man and revealed her powers on live television. The seasoned ended with her opening up the school for witches from all over the world.
Interestingly, it was a character from “Coven” who previously made the biggest jump from season to season. Queenie, played by Gabourey Sidibe and introduced in “Coven,” appeared during the fifth season, “Hotel.”
Premiering Sept. 12 on FX, American Horror Story: Apocalypse stars Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Kathy Bates, Billie Lourd, Billy Eichner, Leslie Grossman, Adina Porter, Cheyenne Jackson and Joan Collins.
