Angela Bassett, Patti LuPone Join ‘American Horror Story: Coven’

The cast of American Horror Story: Coven has scored two new additions.

Angela Bassett and Patti LuPone will be joining the third cycle of Ryan Murphy’s horror anthology. Murphy made the announcement on Twitter early Sunday, writing, “Two legends are joining the cast of American Horror Story: Coven — Oscar nominee Angela Bassett and Tony winner Patti LuPone!”

Of course, because this is Ryan Murphy we’re talking about, there are no details yet on who Bassett and LuPone will be playing. And very little is known about the plot so far, but here’s what we do know: The season will have to do with witches (duh), and Murphy has said that three characters would be playing real people, including Kathy Bates, who was added to the cast in February.

Murphy said at PaleyFest in March, “It’s a really cool story that we’ve been talking for a couple years, and this seemed to be the year to do it.”

Murphy also said the series would be filming in multiple locations, including New Orleans. This will mark the first time the series has filmed outside of a soundstage. The third installment will also be more historical in nature, but more upbeat than the previous season, Asylum.

Angela Bassett, who was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe for her role as Tina Turner in 1993’s What’s Love Got To Do With It, has most recently appeared in Olympus Has Fallen as Secret Service Director Lynn Jacobs. She also recently portrayed Coretta Scott King in the Lifetime TV movie Betty and Coretta. She also played Betty Shabazz in Malcolm X, and Katherine Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream.

Patti LuPone won Tony awards for her roles as Eva Peron in 1979’s Evita and Mama Rose in 2008’s Gypsy: A Musical Fable. She has appeared in episodes of Frasier, Army Wives, and 30 Rock, and played Florine Werthan in Driving Miss Daisy.

The pair join newcomer Gabourey Sidibe (The Big C), as well as returning stars Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Frances Conroy, and Lily Rabe. Taissa Farmiga, who played Violet in the first season, is also returning.

American Horror Story: Coven is set to premiere in October, just in time for Halloween.

Are you excited for American Horror Story: Coven?

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