Summary
A new season ofAmerican Horror Storybringsanotherscary setting, villains who hide in plain sight, and a couple of cliffhangers. A new season also allows fans to see theirfavoriteAHScast memberssince many actors return for more than one season. Sarah Paulson, Emma Roberts, Evan Peters, and Lily Rabe are some of the versatile stars who have appeared on Ryan Murphy’s eerie anthology series.
Unfortunately,Jessica Lange said she won’t be inAHSseason 13, which has made fans curious about who they will see again. Viewers would be happy to see Lange in every season since she’s so talented. Sadly, she lastappeared in two episodes ofAmerican Horror Story: Apocalypsein 2018. Everyone wants to know why Lange decided to leaveAmerican Horror Story.
Why Did Jessica Lange Quit American Horror Story?
In 2013, Jessica Lange gave an interview toEntertainment Weeklyand explained why she leftAmerican Horror Story. She said it wasbecause of the time commitment. Lange explained:
“It ends up being a lot of time during the year being committed to something. I haven’t done that for a long time. It’s like doing a stage play between the rehearsal and the run. This is a 6-month commitment every year. That will be four years in a row. I want to have more time to myself I guess.”
Lange continued:
“Once it’s over and I have a full year ahead of me with nothing to do, who knows? It might not have been the best decision. But I think four years doing something is a sufficient amount of time.”
A decade later, in 2023, Lange gave an interview toThe Telegraphand shared thatshe might stop acting soon. She said, “I don’t think I’ll do this too much longer.”
No matterwhat plotAmerican Horror Storyseason 13 has, Lange’s absence will be felt because she gives every character her all. Although every season has a large cast, Lange stands out because she has such a commanding presence. She has also playedlarger-than-life and attention-grabbing characterswho don’t suffer fools and who manipulate others to get what they want.
Besides her recurring roles onAmerican Horror Story, Lange is known for playing Dwan in the 1976 filmKing Kong, Julie Nichols in the 1982 comedyTootsie, and Sandra Bloom inTim Burton’s quirky and moving 2003 movieBig Fish. She also starred inthree other shows created by Ryan Murphy: the dark and comedic 2019 Netflix seriesThe Politician, 2017’sFeud: Bette and Joan, and 2024’sFeud: Capote vs. The Swans. Lange’s most recent role was Phyllis in the playMother Playon Broadway and the main character inthe 2024 TV movieThe Great Lillian Hallabout an actress who has dementia. Although fans would have loved to see Lange appear in more seasons ofAHS, she has definitely made some interesting career choices.
Jessica Lange’s Best American Horror Story Roles
Jessica Lange’sAmerican Horror Storyroles are so beloved because they are so distinct from each other. Sheplayed the Harmon’s creepy neighbor andvillain Tate Langdon’s (Evan Peters)mom Constance LangdoninAmerican Horror Story: Murder Houseand reprised the role inAmerican Horror Story: Apocalypse. She also portrayed the cruel Sister Jude Martin inAmerican Horror Story: Asylumand the mysterious carnival owner Elsa Mars inAmerican Horror Story: Freak Show. Elsa has an unsettling character arc and bythe end ofAHSseason 4, viewers have been taken on a wild and surprising ride.
Many fans would likely agree that Lange’s best role wasSupreme Witch Fiona Goode inAmerican Horror Story: Coven. As Fiona deals with younger witches who want to have more power than her, her character arc explores themes of change and aging, and she has a captivating presence in every scene.
American Horror Storyseason 13 may not feature Jessica Lange, butLange’sunnerving and compelling characterswill never be forgotten. She praised her characters in an interview withVulturein 2024 and said that when the writers asked “what should we do” she suggested monologues and her character had some “wonderful” speeches. Lange said:
“Those characters were overwritten and fun to play. And each one’s so different. The great thing about this premise was every season was a different story.”
