American Horror Story Is Bringing Its Most Infamous Nightmares Back for Season 13

Lucky number 13 was never going to be subtle.

American Horror Story has released the first teaser for its upcoming thirteenth season, and rather than introducing one entirely new nightmare, the series appears ready to reopen some very familiar doors. The new footage brings together faces and characters from across the show’s history, turning Season 13 into what could become one of the franchise’s most ambitious collisions yet.

At the center of the teaser is Twisty the Clown, John Carroll Lynch’s unforgettable Freak Show creation, immediately signaling a return to some of the darker corners of the AHS universe. But Twisty is far from alone.

Emma Roberts returns as Madison Montgomery, alongside Jessica Lange as Constance Langdon, Angela Bassett as Marie Laveau, Sarah Paulson as Cordelia Goode and Evan Peters as Kai Anderson. Gabourey Sidibe, Jamie Brewer as Addie Langdon and Mena Suvari as the Black Dahlia also appear, pulling together characters from multiple seasons of the anthology.

For BELLO, some of those returning faces are particularly familiar. Evan Peters, Billie Lourd have appeared on BELLO and Leslie Grossman on (our sister mage) VULKAN.

There are still plenty of mysteries surrounding what Season 13 will actually become.

Paul Anthony Kelly appears in the teaser wearing a blonde wig, although details surrounding his character remain under wraps. The larger ensemble also includes Joey Pollari, Kathy Bates, Leslie Grossman, Avantika, Elle Chapman, Berto Colon, Alex Consani, Frances Conroy, Mat Fraser, Seth Gabel, Orlando Jones, Tig Notaro, Madelaine Petsch, Fedor Steer, Zach Villa and John Waters.

For a series that has spent more than a decade constantly reinventing itself—from haunted houses and witches to hotels, cults, freak shows and apocalypses—the return of so many recognizable characters immediately raises the question of how deeply Season 13 will connect the different chapters of the American Horror Story universe.

For now, that answer is staying hidden.

What we do know is that AHS: 13 will consist of 13 half-hour episodes and premiere Thursday, September 24 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on FX and Hulu. The first two weeks will each bring three episodes, followed by two new episodes every Thursday leading to the season finale on October 29.

Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk return among the executive producers alongside Ned Martel, Charlie Carver, Eric Kovtun, Nissa Diederich, Scott Robertson, Tanase Popa, Crystle Roberson Dorsey, Jennifer Salt and Tim Minear. The series is produced by 20th Television.

Thirteen seasons in, American Horror Story seems ready to turn its own history into the horror story. Familiar faces are returning, old nightmares are resurfacing, and if the first teaser is any indication, Season 13 may be less interested in starting over than in bringing everything back together.