History of American Horror Story in Timeline
American Horror Story is a horror anthology television series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. Each season is designed as a self-contained miniseries with a unique setting, characters, and storyline, though all exist within the same fictional universe. Seasons have distinct "beginnings, middles, and ends." Plot elements are often loosely inspired by true events, adding a layer of realism to the show's macabre themes.
1964: Briarcliff Manor Setting
Set in 1964, the season follows the patients and staff members of the church-owned mental asylum Briarcliff Manor, located in an undisclosed town in Massachusetts, which was founded to treat and house the criminally insane.
1981: Murders Target Gay Community in NYC
In 1981, a series of murders targeting the gay community in New York City spurs an investigation by detective Patrick Read and reporter Gino Barelli.
1984: Camp Redwood Reopens
In 1984, Brooke Thompson and others travel to Camp Redwood as counselors. They encounter the camp owner, Margaret Booth, and face the threat of escaped murderer Benjamin Richter.
1984: 1984 season release
In 1984, the ninth season of American Horror Story, titled "1984", centers around a reopening of a summer camp after a massacre.
1984: Season 9 received critical acclaim
The ninth season, American Horror Story: 1984, received critical acclaim in 1984 with Rotten Tomatoes reporting that 88% of 170 critics gave the season a positive review.
February 2011: FX Orders Pilot
In February 2011, FX officially ordered a pilot for a possible series from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk.
April 2011: Production Begins
Production on the series began in April 2011.
July 2011: Full Series Picked Up
In July 2011, FX officially announced the project had been picked up to become a full series.
July 2011: Production begins for first season
In July 2011, production and shooting for the first season of American Horror Story began. The pilot episode was filmed at the Rosenheim Mansion in Los Angeles, which serves as the haunted house.
September 2011: FX Launches Website for Murder House
In September 2011, FX launched a website allowing visitors to tour the Murder House throughout the decades and look for clues. This was part of the series' promotion.
November 2011: Series premiere airs across Europe and Latin America
In November 2011, the series premiere of American Horror Story aired across Europe and Latin America on Fox International Channels. It ranked as first or second most watched telecast in its timeslot among all paid television in most metered markets.
2011: Most-viewed new cable series of 2011
In 2011, the first season of American Horror Story was the most-viewed new cable series.
2011: Harmon family moves into haunted house
Set in 2011, the Harmon family moves from Boston to Los Angeles to a restored mansion and soon encounter the residence's housekeeper, Moira O'Hara, as well as their neighbors—the eccentric Langdon family.
2011: Season 1 received generally positive reviews
The first season, American Horror Story: Murder House, received generally positive reviews from critics in 2011.
March 2012: Season Two Cast Announced
In March 2012, Ryan Murphy revealed that the second season had been planned around Jessica Lange, with Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe and Zachary Quinto returning to join the main cast.
July 2012: Production Begins for Second Season
In late July 2012, production and shooting for the second season of American Horror Story began, with a scheduled premiere in mid-October. The exteriors were filmed in Hidden Valley, Ventura County, California.
August 2012: First Promo for Season Two Released
In August 2012, the first promo for the second season of American Horror Story was released on the show's Facebook page, titled 'Special Delivery'. Over 20 subsequent teasers were released, along with four photos on EW.com.
August 31, 2012: "Meet the Residents" Televised Teasers Released
On August 31, 2012, two televised teasers titled 'Meet the Residents' were released, featuring the patients and some staff dealing with their individual issues as the heads of the asylum look on. The song 'Que Sera, Sera', mixed with the show's theme music, plays.
November 2012: Series Format Described as Groundbreaking
In November 2012, FX chief executive, John Landgraf, described the unique format of the series as an anthological series of miniseries with a repertory cast, stating that it has proven groundbreaking, wildly successful and will prove to be trendsetting.
May 2013: Emma Roberts Added to Cast
In May 2013, Emma Roberts was added to the cast as Madison Montgomery, a "self-involved party girl".
July 2013: Denis O'Hare Joins Cast
In July 2013, season one alum Denis O'Hare joined the cast in an unknown role, later revealed as Spalding.
July 23, 2013: Principal Photography Begins for Third Season
On July 23, 2013, principal photography for the third season of American Horror Story began in New Orleans, Louisiana. The season primarily filmed in New Orleans.
November 2013: Jessica Lange Returning for Fourth Season
In November 2013, Ryan Murphy confirmed that Jessica Lange would be returning for a fourth season, although in a reduced capacity, playing freak show owner Elsa Mars.
2013: Series Compared to Horror Films at PaleyFest
At the 2013 PaleyFest, Brad Falchuk stated that the series requires compassion because the audience falls in love with the characters differently than in a movie, and that the show has a different responsibility to the characters.
2013: Coven Set in 2013
Set in 2013, the season follows the dwindling descendants of the witches who survived the Salem witch trials and their struggle to survive in the modern world.
March 29, 2014: Additional Cast Members Announced
On March 29, 2014, Ryan Murphy announced that Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Frances Conroy, Emma Roberts, Denis O'Hare, and Angela Bassett would all return for the fourth season.
July 15, 2014: Principal Photography Begins for Fourth Season
On July 15, 2014, principal photography for the fourth season of American Horror Story began in New Orleans, despite the story taking place in Jupiter, Florida.
October 7, 2014: FX Orders American Crime Story
On October 7, 2014, FX ordered a 10-episode companion series titled American Crime Story.
2014: Events from 2014 to 2016
Set from 2014 to 2016, the season follows the supernatural events that occur in a renovated farmhouse in North Carolina, which is situated on the land where the Roanoke Colony moved after their infamous 1580s disappearance.
February 25, 2015: Lady Gaga Joins Cast
On February 25, 2015, singer-songwriter Lady Gaga was announced as the first and newest main cast member.
June 2015: Matt Bomer and Cheyenne Jackson Join Cast
In June 2015, Matt Bomer joined the fifth season's cast along with series newcomer Cheyenne Jackson during PaleyFest 2015.
July 14, 2015: Principal Photography Begins for Fifth Season
On July 14, 2015, principal photography for the fifth season of American Horror Story began in Los Angeles, California. A six-story hotel set was constructed on the Fox lot for filming.
August 2015: Character Roles Announced
In August 2015, Ryan Murphy announced the character roles for the cast, including Lady Gaga as Elizabeth Johnson, Cheyenne Jackson as Will Drake, and Denis O'Hare as Liz Taylor.
August 2015: Show Producing Two Seasons a Year
In an August 2015 article for Entertainment Weekly, Ryan Murphy revealed that the show is producing two seasons a year.
2015: Billie Lourd's Breakout Appearance
Billie Lourd, who made her breakout appearance with Ryan Murphy in 2015, was confirmed to join the main cast in April.
2015: Shelby and Matt recount harrowing experience
In 2015, Shelby Miller and her husband Matt recount their harrowing experience living in the farmhouse a year prior in a popular documentary series titled My Roanoke Nightmare.
2015: Hotel Cortez setting in 2015
Set in 2015, the season follows the strange and dangerous happenings that seem to center around the retro Hotel Cortez in downtown Los Angeles, California.
February 2016: Angela Bassett Confirmed to Return
In February 2016, Angela Bassett confirmed she would return to join the main cast of the sixth season.
February 2016: American Crime Story Season 1 Premiere
In February 2016, the first season of American Crime Story premiered.
May 2016: Denis O'Hare Announces Return
In a May 2016 interview, Denis O'Hare announced that he would also appear in the season.
June 2016: Cheyenne Jackson, Evan Peters, Wes Bentley, and Kathy Bates Announce Returns
In June 2016, Cheyenne Jackson, Evan Peters, Wes Bentley, and Kathy Bates announced their returns for the sixth season.
July 6, 2016: Filming Begins for Sixth Season
On July 6, 2016, filming for the sixth season of American Horror Story began in Santa Clarita, California. Set constructions included a colonial settler home to speculate the disappearance of the Roanoke Colony.
August 2016: Sarah Paulson and Cuba Gooding Jr. Join Cast
In August 2016, Sarah Paulson announced that she would return to the series in the sixth season, and Ryan Murphy announced that Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. had joined the main cast.
August 16, 2016: American Horror Story Maze at Universal Studios
On August 16, 2016, FX announced a deal had been struck to feature an American Horror Story maze at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando for their Halloween Horror Nights events. The maze featured sets and themes from Murder House, Freak Show, and Hotel.
September 2016: Full Main Cast Announced
In September 2016, the full main cast was announced after the first episode, with the inclusion of André Holland and returning series veteran Lily Rabe.
2016: Popularity in cities and the Southwest
In 2016, a study by The New York Times found that American Horror Story was more popular in cities and throughout parts of the Southwest, unlike many shows about the supernatural.
2016: Brookfield Heights Divided After Trump's Election
In 2016, the fictional town of Brookfield Heights, Michigan, is divided after Donald Trump's election. Ally Mayfair-Richards is distraught, while Kai Anderson sees it as an opportunity for political gain.
2016: Cult after the 2016 U.S. presidential election
In 2016, the seventh season, Cult, centers on a cult after the U.S. presidential election.
2016: Return to Roanoke: Three Days in Hell
In 2016, the success of the documentary leads to a sequel titled Return to Roanoke: Three Days in Hell, spearheaded by the producer of the original series, Sidney Aaron James, who invites the Millers, as well as many of the reenactment actors, to return to the farmhouse for three days during the blood moon.
June 2017: Filming plans changed for Season 7
In June 2017, filming for the seventh season of American Horror Story was originally planned to begin in Orange, California, before it was moved to May instead.
October 2017: Sarah Paulson to return for series' eighth cycle
In October 2017, Sarah Paulson announced her return for the eighth cycle of American Horror Story. This announcement generated excitement among fans eager to see her role in the upcoming season.
2017: Paulson and Peters Set to Return for Seventh Season
During the Winter 2017 TCA Press Tour, it was announced that Paulson and Peters were set to return for the series' seventh season.
2017: Ally's Phobias and Paranoia Increase
In 2017, Ally's phobias re-emerge, affecting her relationships. She experiences terror from masked assailants, leading to distrust and paranoia.
January 2018: American Crime Story Season 2 Premiere
In January 2018, the second season of American Crime Story premiered.
June 16, 2018: Filming Begins for Eighth Season
On June 16, 2018, filming for the eighth season of American Horror Story began. It was filmed in multiple locations.
December 5, 2018: Witches From Coven to Return
On December 5, 2018, Ryan Murphy announced that the witches from Coven would return in a future season.
2018: Most In-Demand Horror TV Show of 2018
In 2018, American Horror Story was named the most in-demand horror TV show by Guinness World Records, based on global TV demand data.
February 2019: Emma Roberts and Gus Kenworthy Join Season Nine
In February 2019, Ryan Murphy announced Emma Roberts' return and the addition of Gus Kenworthy to the cast of the ninth season via Instagram. This casting news generated anticipation for the new season's storyline and characters.
March 20, 2019: Disney Finalizes Purchase of 21st Century Fox
On March 20, 2019, The Walt Disney Company completely finalized its purchase of 21st Century Fox, including 20th Century Fox film and TV assets. This may affect the franchise's presence in Halloween Horror Nights at Universal parks due to the Disney-Universal rivalry.
April 9, 2019: American Horror Story: Apocalypse Moved to Drama Category
On April 9, 2019, the Television Academy announced that American Horror Story: Apocalypse would be moved to the Drama category instead of Limited Series.
July 11, 2019: Season 9 filming confirmed to begin
On July 11, 2019, Ryan Murphy confirmed that the ninth season of American Horror Story had begun filming.
July 2019: Angelica Ross Joins Season Nine Cast
In July 2019, Ryan Murphy announced Angelica Ross would be joining the cast for the ninth season, adding to the ensemble. Also in July 2019, Cody Fern, Leslie Grossman, Billie Lourd were confirmed to return to the series, with John Carroll Lynch being promoted to the main cast after his third appearance in Cult, also with newcomers Zach Villa and Matthew Morrison.
January 9, 2020: Series Renewed Through Season 13
On January 9, 2020, the series was renewed through season 13.
January 2020: FX renews American Horror Story through Season 13
In January 2020, FX renewed the American Horror Story series, guaranteeing it would continue through to season 13.
January 2020: Sarah Paulson Confirmed to Return for Season Ten
In January 2020, Sarah Paulson confirmed her return to the show for its tenth season in a lead role. Her return was highly anticipated after her absence in 1984.
May 11, 2020: American Horror Stories Spin-off Announced
On May 11, 2020, Ryan Murphy revealed the development of a spin-off series named American Horror Stories.
June 22, 2020: American Horror Stories to Stream on FX on Hulu
On June 22, 2020, it was announced that American Horror Stories would stream on FX on Hulu instead.
August 4, 2020: Sarah Paulson to Direct American Horror Stories
On August 4, 2020, it was announced that Sarah Paulson was set to be a director on the series American Horror Stories.
October 2020: Virtual Paranormal Investigation at Murder House
In October 2020, the owners of the historic Alfred Rosenheim Mansion (The Murder House) hosted a virtual paranormal investigation. It featured a production crew, Hollywood psychic Patti Negri, exorcist Bishop James Long, and other notable guests.
December 2, 2020: Filming Commences for Season 10
On December 2, 2020, Lily Rabe confirmed that filming had begun for Season 10 of American Horror Story, which had been delayed due to COVID-19.
July 14, 2021: American Horror Story Themed Bakery Opens in New York
On July 14, 2021, an American Horror Story themed bakery opened in New York's Meatpacking District in Manhattan until July 24, 2021, to celebrate the release of spin-off American Horror Stories and the tenth season titled Double Feature.
July 15, 2021: American Horror Stories Premieres
On July 15, 2021, American Horror Stories premiered, consisting of seven episodes in its first season.
July 24, 2021: American Horror Story Themed Bakery closed in New York
On July 24, 2021, the American Horror Story themed bakery in New York's Meatpacking District in Manhattan closed.
August 4, 2021: American Horror Story Themed Bakery Opened in Los Angeles
On August 4, 2021, an American Horror Story themed bakery opened in Los Angeles from August 4, 2021, until August 14, 2021, in Beverly Grove.
August 14, 2021: American Horror Story Themed Bakery Closed in Los Angeles
On August 14, 2021, an American Horror Story themed bakery closed in Los Angeles, after opening on August 4, 2021.
September 1, 2021: American Horror Story Themed Bakery Opened in Provincetown, Massachusetts
On September 1, 2021, the American Horror Story themed bakery opened in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where the first part of the tenth season were filmed, at Pat's Happy Park on September 1, 2021, until September 4, 2021.
September 4, 2021: American Horror Story Themed Bakery Closed in Provincetown, Massachusetts
On September 4, 2021, the American Horror Story themed bakery closed in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where the first part of the tenth season were filmed, at Pat's Happy Park.
September 2021: American Crime Story: Impeachment Aired
In September 2021, the third season of American Crime Story, titled Impeachment, focused on the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal, and aired.
September 27, 2021: Filming wrapped for Season 10
Filming wrapped for Season 10 of American Horror Story on September 27, 2021, after beginning on December 2, 2020.
July 21, 2022: American Horror Stories Season 2 Premieres
On July 21, 2022, the second season of American Horror Stories premiered, consisting of eight episodes.
August 2022: Paulson Doubts Future Season Returns
In August 2022, Sarah Paulson expressed doubts about returning for future seasons of American Horror Story. This statement raised questions about her continued involvement in the series.
April 6, 2023: Matt Czuchry Joins Cast of Season Twelve
On April 6, 2023, it was reported that Matt Czuchry had joined the cast of the twelfth season of American Horror Story. This casting announcement followed the cancellation of 'The Resident'.
April 10, 2023: Kim Kardashian to Lead Season Twelve
On April 10, 2023, Ryan Murphy confirmed Kim Kardashian would lead the twelfth season alongside Emma Roberts. The announcement generated considerable media attention.
April 2023: American Horror Stories Season 3 Greenlit
In April 2023, a third season of American Horror Stories was greenlit.
April 24, 2023: Cara Delevingne Joins Season Twelve Cast
On April 24, 2023, it was reported that Cara Delevingne had joined the cast of the twelfth season after being spotted filming scenes with Emma Roberts. This added another notable name to the season's ensemble.
April 28, 2023: Annabelle Dexter-Jones and MJ Rodriguez Join Cast
On April 28, 2023, it was reported that Annabelle Dexter-Jones and MJ Rodriguez had joined the cast of the season, further expanding the roster of talent for the upcoming season.
May 4, 2023: Season 12 filming suspended and resumed due to WGA strike
On May 4, 2023, filming for the twelfth season of American Horror Story was reported to have shut down due to the WGA writers strike, but production resumed and the cast and crew were using a back entrance to enter the studio and avoid crossing the picket line.
May 10, 2023: Season 12 production halted due to WGA strike
On May 10, 2023, it was announced that the production of the twelfth season of American Horror Story was halted due to the WGA writers strike. Filming once again continued and wrapped in late October.
October 26, 2023: American Horror Stories Season 3 Premiere Date
October 26, 2023 was set as the premiere date for the third season of American Horror Stories.
2023: Most In-Demand Horror TV Show in 2023
In 2023, American Horror Story was honored again as the most in-demand horror TV show.
October 2024: Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters in Talks for Season 13
In October 2024, Ryan Murphy announced that Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters were in talks to return for season 13.
