THEME & TITLE
Ryan Murphy took to Instagram in April to confirm that Season 9 of American Horror Story is titled 1984.
He also released the first official teaser for the season, which features a girl dressed in 80’s style clothing, running away from a masked figure chasing her through dark and foggy woods with a knife. She shuts herself away in a cabin, panting, yet the knife is stabbed through the door, startling the girl, who screams.
The teaser and title of the season, as well as the girl’s style, tells us that the season will at least partially be set in the 80’s.
It has been heavily implied that 1984 will be paying homage to 80’s horror/slasher classics such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Halloween.
Fans speculate that the title 1984 could also be a nod to George Orwell’s infamous dystopian novel of the same title, which explores themes such as state surveillance.
CAST
Ryan Murphy posted a photo of Darren Criss, Cody Fern and Finn Wittrock together at an event in late 2018, saying that he is “cooking something up” for the trio writing wise. It’s thought that Ryan was hinting at the three appearing in 1984 since neither have been announced to appear in any other Ryan Murphy projects, besides Finn in Ratched, which Cody and Darren won’t be appearing in (as far as we know).
Cody Fern later expressed interest in returning after making his AHS debut the previous year in Apocalypse, saying that he would return “in a heartbeat”.
Further hints towards possible casting for the next season were made in January 2019 when Sarah Paulson and Billy Eichner both appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, who asked the pair if they knew anything about the next season of AHS. Both said that they did but couldn’t say anything, possibly implying that Ryan Murphy approached them about making an appearance.
Sarah Paulson confirmed in a later interview that she will, she “thinks”, be appearing in 1984 but confessed that she doesn’t know much about it as she hasn’t sat down to discuss it with Ryan Murphy. There’s speculation that Paulson will have a limited role due to her being unsure of if she’ll appear at all. She revealed that she’s also due to be working on another “secret” TV project as well as playing the titular role in Murphy’s upcoming Netflix series Ratched.
Two months before revealing the theme and title of the season, Ryan Murphy made another post on Instagram announcing that Gus Kenworthy would make his acting debut in the then-untitled ninth season of Horror Story, also confirming that Emma Roberts would be appearing in the season, saying that Gus would be playing her on-screen boyfriend.
Evan Peters confirmed that he will be “sitting this season out”.
DIRECTION
Director Jen Lynch confirmed that she will be directing presumably at least one episode of 1984, saying that 80’s horror is her passion and that she’s excited to work with Emma Roberts again.
FILMING
Filming is set to begin both on the FOX Lot and on location in California in July.
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: 1984 is expected to air in September on FX.
AMERICAN HORROR STORY NEWS AND RUMORS 