Last week, American Horror Story debuted its fourth season, subtitled Freak Show, with the episode “Monsters Among Us” — read our review — to the show’s (and FX’s) highest ratings to date. Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s horror anthology series has featured various stories based in a haunted house, an asylum, and a New Orleans witch coven; the current season takes viewers inside a 1950s carnival sideshow. The show has dealt with all manner of horrific subjects, from ghosts and serial killers to supernatural demons and — worst of all — clowns.

With all the momentum behind American Horror Story: Freak Show — which includes FX announcing the series’ spinoff American Crime Story — the network has renewed the horror series for a fifth season.

The Wrap is reporting FX renewed American Horror Story for a 13-episode fifth season that will debut in October 2015. John Landgraf, CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions, said American Horror Story has been the fastest growing series in the network’s history and expects the next chapter to further the franchise’s success.

Read Landgraf’s full quote:

“The ‘American Horror Story’ anthology has had the highest growth trajectory of any show in FX history, not to mention an unprecedented track record of success in awards recognition. With Ryan Murphy and his partners, Brad Falchuk, Dante Di Loreto and Tim Minear at the helm, the show’s success is not surprising. ‘AHS’ continues to deliver amazing stories, a brilliant troupe of actors led by Jessica Lange, and a visual style unlike any other on TV. With ‘Nip/Tuck,’ ‘Glee,’ ‘The Normal Heart,’ and ‘American Horror Story,’ Ryan Murphy has established himself as one of the most successful and prolific producers of this generation. We expect ‘AHS: Freak Show’ and the next incarnation of ‘AHS’ to further his legacy.”

Every season of American Horror Story has continually topped each each season before it in terms of ratings, which may be attributed to the show’s consistently strong central cast — Jessica Lange among them, who took home an Emmy for her work last season in Coven. However, the actress has previously stated Freak Show would be her last run on the show, though Murphy has since said the actress is still open to a role in later seasons.
Whether or not Lange does return for the show’s fifth season, American Horror Story has built a strong core cast that includes Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Frances Conroy, and Denis O’Hare, as well as more recent season additions in well-known actresses like Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett — who could help keep fans interested in the horror series, should the actors return for season five.

Perhaps a more important question about the show’s fifth season is what creepy and/or horror-inducing setting will Murphy take viewers to next? Though we may all have our theories, it may be some time before we know the premise of American Horror Story season 5.

American Horror Story: Freak Show continues next Wednesday with ‘Massacres and Matinees’ @10pm ET on FX.

http://screenrant.com/american-horro...son-5-renewal/