In terms of tone, "American Horror Story: Hotel" is "darker, grimmer, [and] more disturbing," said series director of photography Michael Goi via Twitter. If fans thought "Asylum" was unnerving, then they can expect more in the latest season of the hit horror anthology.
Comparing it to his other creation "Scream Queens," Ryan Murphy said that "American Horror Story" is more difficult to write. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he admitted that the fifth season was harder to pen.
"It's fun to write Scream Queens but challenging to write Horror Story, particularly this season, which is about a personal fear and phobia that I have that I haven't explored since the first season of Horror Story," Murphy said in the interview.
He added that he wasn't able to work on such subject because "I didn't want to write about things I was scared of — but I wanted to go back to that."
Unlike the previous seasons, "American Horror Story: Hotel" doesn't revolve around one character, which, as fans know, was always portrayed by Jessica Lange. After four runs, the actress left the series and Murphy thinks that this allowed him to explore the rest of the characters.
"This year, it's a true ensemble and I think we have more male parts and more male stories. The Wes Bentley part is really big, the Matt Bomer part is really big. Evan Peters and Finn Wittrock are really big," the director told Deadline. "[But] that's not to say that the women aren't either. I mean Kathy Bates and [Lady] Gaga and Paulson's part and Angela Bassett's part are great. But I guess it's a different tone this year than we've had."
By different tone, he meant "a little bloodier" and "grislier."
In an interview with Hollywood Life, Murphy raised the possibility of having Caitlyn Jenner on board, admitting that he is a "big fan" and is "proud" of the 65-year-old former Olympian.
"American Horror Story" is "straight horror" this year. Fans hope to get a first look of Lady Gaga's character — the singer's debut as an actress in television — during the San Diego Comic Con on July 12.
