uncanny

Some photos from the Murder House set courtesy of Ryan Murphy, including stills of Tate, Madison Montgomery digging up some bones in the backyard (Moira, Hayden?), and the previously mentioned return of Vivian and Ben.

I'm curious if there will be any callbacks to Hotel considering its connections to both Murder House and Coven. Before this latest Coven cast announcement, the thought did occur to me that if they're resurrecting Madison Montgomery then the same could potentially occur with Misty Day or Queenie, who was gratuitously killed by Ramona Royale at the Hotel Cortez. Wonder if that's a potential option for Angela Bassett to return in some capacity.

Here we can discuss news and spoilers for season eight, subtitled Apocalypse. Premiere: September 12, 2018 Theme: This season is set 18 months in the future following "the end of the world" and combines the stories of Murder House and Coven. Cast: Sarah Paulson is playing three characters -- the returning Cordelia Goode and Billie Dean Howard and new character Venable; Jessica Lange is returning as a guest to portray Constance Langdon from Murder House; Kathy Bates is returning in an undisclosed role; and Evan Peters is playing a hairdresser with Joan Collins playing his grandmother. Much of the Coven crew including Emma Roberts, Taissa Farmiga, Gabourey Sidibe, Lily Rabe, Frances Conroy and even Stevie Nicks. Cult cast members Leslie Grossman, Billie Lourd, Adina Porter, Cheyenne Jackson and Billy Eichner are back. There's also some new blood: Cody Fern is playing Michael Langdon (a grown-up antichrist from Murder House); and there's UnReal's Jeffrey Bower-Chapman and The Path's Kyle Allen popping up as guest stars. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ryan Murphy is talks with Anjelica Huston for an unspecified role.

Looks like the real Cristal Flores, whose identity was stolen by Celia Machado, will be a cast member in season 2. That's an interesting wrinkle and would add some major tension if Nathalie Kelley were to return in some capacity. This Cristal will be played by Ana Brenda Contreras, according to Deadline. Apparently the decision to go in a new direction for the character was made mid-season and Kelley's departure announcement came as a surprise to network execs.

As wooden as she is, I started to like Nathalie Kelley in the role. I thought if her season 2 storyline went the coma route they could expand Alexis' development and ultimately bring Cristal back. Blake would then have to woo her again after the terrible way they left things in the last couple of episodes. If they're recasting, who would you suggest to replace Nathalie Kelley? Maybe Danielle Alonso or Stephanie Sigman? Unrelated, but I'm curious and excited which actress would be best suited to take on Dominique Devereaux. I think it needs to be someone recognizable like Nicolette Sheridan. Vanessa Williams immediately comes to mind but I could also see Vivica A. Fox, Garcelle Beauvais, Jada Pinkett Smith, Michael Michele, or even Robin Givens getting courted from Riverdale.

Nathalie Kelley isn't coming back for season 2, according to an interview with E! News Australia. I, too, am curious if they'll sideline Cristal to the hospital. I don't think they'd outright kill her off, but it's not as though the show hasn't switched up the formula before. But who will wear all of the blush, nude, and white costumes?

So, that gritty reboot of LHOTP we've all been waiting for is now happening.