'American Horror Story' season 4 episode 11 returns Jan. 7: Neil Patrick Harris to frighten fans with spooky magic

Screengrabbed from the AHS: Freakshow trailerFX

The freaks might be in hiatus from giving "American Horror Story: Freak Show" fans more nightmares during the coming holidays, but it does not mean that they are not preparing something big once the season returns next year. 

The official synopsis for the midseason opener of "AHS: Freak Show" reads: 

"Elsa prepares for her move to Hollywood. The Twins grow enamored with a traveling salesman. Dell plots Jimmy's escape from police custody.

In episode 11, a beloved actor will join the cast for added frightening scenes in the series as the traveling salesman/creepy magician. 

The world first knew him as the teenage doctor in "Doogie Howser, M.D." and loved him for portraying the awesome role of Barney Stinson in the TV comedy "How I Met Your Mother." But this time, Neil Patrick Harris will terrify fans as a spooky magician in FX's horror anthology series. 

The Tony Award-winning actor, who is also a self-confessed fan of the horror series, will finally get what he wished for by landing a role in "AHS." He will portray the role of Chester, Elsa Mars' (Jessica Lange) successor in managing the Jupiter, Florida carnival, and the newest apple of the eye of the Tattler twins Bette and Dot (Sarah Paulson). He will be introduced in the midseason premier episode titled "Magical Thinking," and his character will last until episode 12. 

Chester's involvement in the lives of the Tattler twins may not be good news, since he claims that his extra spooky ventriloquist dummy is the one that "relaxes him." Incidentally, that dummy looks very much like the returning "AHS" star Jamie Brewer, who will also return to the show on the same episode. 

This is not the first time that Harris will work with "AHS" series creators Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy. The 41-year-old actor also appeared in a "Glee" episode, which is also created by the duo. 

"American Horror Story: Freak Show" will return on Jan. 7.