With resident Grand Dame Jessica Lange out of the picture for the first time since the series began, anthology hit American Horror Story had a big diva-shaped hole to fill this year. Enter Lady Gaga, a fan of the show who has stepped up to play a character with a predilection for human blood - just don't call her a vampire.
American Horror Story has always prided itself on becoming something entirely new with every season, and though that's very much the case with this year's temporary accommodation-centric series, co-creator Ryan Murphy says AHS: Hotel will recall the show's beginning.
"The season we're doing this year harks back to the first season, which is much more rooted in honest kinds of fears." Murphy says. "The interesting thing for me about the show is it's almost a personality test when people come up and tell me what their favourite season or character is. And it's always is different and it changes every year."
One thing that doesn't change a lot is the cast. Although certain players come and go, Murphy has been focused on a core company of actors for several years now.
"I feel pressure for this incredibly talented cast to give them something different, something that is challenging to them." says Murphy. "One thing I do with the cast every year is ask them 'What have you always wanted to do? What have you always wanted to play?' So this is a cast that's very involved in a lot of those decisions."
