American Horror Story: Coven Information

American Horror Story: Coven is the upcoming third season of the FX horror anthology television series American Horror Story. It is set to premiere on October 9, 2013, and conclude in January 2014.

The series was renewed for a third season on November 15, 2012.

Plot

It's been over 300 years since the Salem witch trials. Zoe (Taissa Farmiga) is shattered to discover she possesses a strange genetic affliction tracing back to the dark days of Salem. She is then whisked away to Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies, a mysterious school in New Orleans devoted to safeguarding the few remaining descendants who share this unique bloodline, there to teach protection to the young. Those who remain are almost extinct and in danger again. The long-absent Supreme, Fiona (Jessica Lange) arrives to also protect the coven and their secrets. Fiona's daughter, Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) is a teacher at the school. The themes include witches, witch hunts, incest, minorities, slavery, mothers and daughters, and witchcraft versus voodoo. This season will be set in modern day and the 1830s.

Cast and characters

Main cast

• Jessica Lange as Fiona
• Kathy Bates as Delphine LaLaurie
• Sarah Paulson as Cordelia
• Evan Peters as Kyle
• Lily Rabe as
• Taissa Farmiga as Zoe
• Angela Bassett as Marie Laveau
• Patti LuPone as Joan Ramsey
• Emma Roberts as Madison
• Gabourey Sidibe as Queenie
• Denis O'Hare

Recurring cast

• Alexandra Breckenridge
• Jamie Brewer as Nan
• Frances Conroy
• Grey Damon
• Alexander Dreymon
• Christine Ebersole
• Danny Huston
• Leslie Jordan
• Mare Winningham

Episodes

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No. in series	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Production code	U.S. viewers (million)
DirectedBy = Alfonso Gomez-Rejon	WrittenBy = Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk	OriginalAirDate =	ProdCode = 3ATS01	Viewers =	ShortSummary =	LineColor = 880085 }} </ref>	DirectedBy = Michael Rymer	WrittenBy = Tim Minear	OriginalAirDate =	ProdCode =	Viewers =	ShortSummary =	LineColor = 880085 }}

Development

In January 2013, series creator Ryan Murphy hinted that a clue about the third season would be hidden in the tenth episode of the second season. In a later interview discussing that episode, he stated: "I sorta feel like for the third version I want to do something that's a little bit more 'evil glamour.' Just something that's a little bit more...one of the things that I missed this season was I really loved having that Romeo and Juliet youth story with Violet and Tate [from the first season]. I want something like that again and we're doing something like that in the third season. And we're contemplating shooting the show in a different place. We're contemplating shooting it in a place in the country where true horror has been." In a later interview, Murphy added that the time period for the season will be modern day.

Executive producer Tim Minear has stated that, while this season's tone might be lighter with more humor, the global themes of it will be "oppression of minorities of all kinds, and within that idea, minority groups going after each other and doing the work of the larger culture." He added, "While there is a strong feminist theme that runs throughout Coven, there are themes of race and themes of oppression, and themes of family "? especially mothers and daughters."

Casting

Series executive producers and co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk have stated that, as with the second season, "many actors" will return for the third season in different roles. Jessica Lange, Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson have all been confirmed to return. Murphy added that Lange will portray a "real glamour-cat lady", who was later named Fiona. Paulson said in an interview that her character will be "definitely different". She added, "Basically, she's going to look different, and my relationship to Lange is going to be quite different this time. At the beginning of last season, no one knew that Lana would be the hero, so it's possible I could end up the evil one this year. As of right now, there will be some of Lana Winters' qualities in my character, but I don't know for sure." Taissa Farmiga, who played a leading role in the first season, will co-star as a character that is involved in a prominent romance during the third season. Lily Rabe has also been cast as a lead in the third installment. Frances Conroy has also signed on for the season in a role later to revealed as Ruth. Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates has also been cast to co-star in the third season. She will portray a woman who, at the start, is Lange's character's best friend, but will become her worst enemy. Murphy has stated that Bates' character will be "five times worse than [her] Misery character" and is also inspired by a "true event". In April 2013, it was announced that Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe would also be joining the cast in an unknown role.

On May 13, 2013, Murphy announced via Twitter that Oscar nominee Angela Bassett and two-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone had joined the cast. In July 2013, Bassett confirmed she would be playing a voodoo priestess, based on Marie Laveau. In a June 2013 interview, LuPone said her character would not be a witch, but "the personification of the religious right, 'like Piper Laurie in Carrie.'" It was also announced in May 2013 that Emma Roberts had been added to the cast. Roberts will play Madison, a "self-involved party girl."

In July and August 2013, respectively, Murphy announced through Twitter that first season alums Denis O'Hare and Alexandra Breckenridge had joined the cast in unknown roles. In August 2013, Ryan Murphy announced that he had cast Christine Ebersole as a "good witch-type gal." In an August 23 interview, Jessica Lange revealed that Mare Winningham had joined the cast. On August 28, Leslie Jordan announced that he had joined the cast. Emma Roberts will play Madison, confirmed as one of the major recurring characters. In September 2013, Alexander Dreymon was cast in an unnamed role described as "the handsome young man who moves in next door to the Academy."

Filming

Principal photography for the season began on July 23, 2013, in multiple locations, one being New Orleans, Louisiana. "After two seasons shooting in Los Angeles, the series moves to [New Orleans] for its third season," writes the casting call. "Filming begins July 23, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana and will continue through January 2014." Despite Ryan Murphy stating that the third season would take place in multiple cities, it was recently revealed that New Orleans would be the primary setting of the third installment.

Marketing

Similar to the prior seasons, FX is publishing mini teaser trailers for Coven on the show's Facebook page.