Ariana Grande’s planned appearance in the thirteenth season of American Horror Story was sidelined due to scheduling conflicts with her Eternal Sunshine Tour, according to series creator Ryan Murphy. The pop star and actress, who previously played Chanel #2 in Murphy’s Scream Queens, was forced to step back from the FX horror anthology after her touring dates collided with production schedules.
Scheduling Conflicts Sideline Pop Star’s Return
Production on American Horror Story Season 13 required cast availability that ultimately clashed with Ariana Grande’s concert commitments. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at a red carpet premiere, Ryan Murphy explained how the casting discussions unfolded. “At one point I was going to have the Scream Queens come on to this season, but Ariana was touring and I couldn’t make it work,” Murphy stated. While the singer expressed a desire to participate despite her busy road schedule, the specific weekend required for filming remained immovable. “She warned me in advance that it was gonna be really hard to schedule, and the weekend we had to shoot it, she was touring,” Murphy said. Despite missing the window for Season 13, the creator noted that he had not given up on future collaborations with the actor, emphasizing, “I love her.”
Expanded Cast and Upcoming Franchise Milestones
The thirteenth installment of the long-running FX horror series features a sprawling ensemble of returning franchise veterans, with promotional trailers highlighting numerous beloved characters from past seasons. Series creator Murphy has indicated that several frequent collaborators will take on multiple roles throughout the current run. Meanwhile, Grande’s career has seen major cinematic expansion following her work in television. The performer earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Glinda in the feature adaptation of Wicked and stars in the upcoming comedy feature Focker-In-Law, slated for a theatrical release on November 25.
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