This weekend’s PaleyFest in Beverly Hills seemed to be the perfect unveiling for American Horror Story season 2, as Executive Producer Ryan Murphy laid out his final plans on how the show will be going forward in season 2, as well as answering the big question that all AHS fans have been waiting for…who’s returning for season 2?
During the PaleyFest panel, which included Murphy, co-creator/executive producer Brad Falchuk, and actors Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott, Alexandra Breckinridge, Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange, and Sarah Paulson, outlined what will happen in season 2 on FX’s hit anthology series.

As reported before, Britton and McDermott will not be returning to AHS for the second season because Murphy wanted to explore different storylines and characters each season. Also, Murphy felt that the story of the Harmons (Britton, McDermott, and Taissa Farmiga) had run its course.

For season 2, Evan Peters (Tate) will be returning, along with Golden Globe and SAG winner Jessica Lange (Constance), Sarah Paulson (psychic Billie Jean), Lily Rabe (Nora Armstrong), and Zachary Quinto (Chad Warwick).
Not too many details were given about the upcoming season, but as I speculated, season 2 will take place in an East Coast mental institution (as seen in the episode “Birth”). The interesting thing about season two is that the returning actors wont actually be playing the characters they played in season 1. The only thing that Murphy commented on about the character changes was “everyone is playing the opposite of what they played before. The only real rule on this show is no werewolves and no vampires.”
AHS will also be “equally terrifying, but with a different vibe” – according to Murphy.
Production of American Horror Story season 2 starts in July, with a premiere date slated for October.