Patti LuPone, a master of screen sorcery, has nonetheless drawn a line in the sand when it comes to revisiting the haunted realms of "American Horror Story." In a lively and candid conversation with Gold Derby, the Broadway legend emphatically shut the door — with a dash of sass — on a potential return for the thirteenth season of the FX anthology series.
When prompted about rumors that series creator Ryan Murphy aimed to "reunite the gang," LuPone greeted the notion with a raised eyebrow and a skeptical, "What gang is that, exactly?" Upon learning it was "the super cool crowd," she chuckled dryly and dismissed it with, "Yeah, I don't think so," adding, "I'm guessing he was referring to the blokes."
LuPone first dipped her toes into the dark arts of the "AHS" universe as Joan Ramsey in "Coven" (Season 3) and later resurfaced in "American Horror Story: NYC" (Season 11). While she clearly cherished her previous stints, the allure of a season 13 comeback simply failed to cast its spell over her.
Reflecting on the eerie parallels between her "AHS" roles and her gig in the Disney+ series "Agatha All Along," she quipped, "I've just wrapped up that season with tarot cards; I feel like a witch — it's all eerily connected."
LuPone isn't the only "AHS" alum to decline another lap around the horror block. Jessica Lange, another iconic figure from the series, was even more blunt when queried about a possible return. During the Glasgow Film Festival premiere of "Long Day's Journey Into Night," Lange was met with the timeless question, "Would you come back if it's the final season?" Her unwavering response? A resolute, "Oh Christ, no." When pressed further, she doubled down with a hearty laugh and a definitive, "No way."
Lange starred in five seasons of "American Horror Story," starting with the groundbreaking "Murder House" in 2011. Like LuPone, she appears to have left the haunted corridors and hexes behind.
So, if Season 13 does turn out to be the grand swan song, it seems we'll have to bid farewell to some of the show's most legendary ladies. And we'll just have to accept that some witches do indeed retire their broomsticks for good.
