The teaser trailer for the upcoming 12th series of American Horror Story has just landed, introducing audiences to two new leads in the form of Cara Delevingne and none other than reality TV star Kim Kardashian.
The 43-second teaser opens with a highly-stylised dance sequence in shades of metallic blues and reds. It has been edited so its scenes turn into a symmetrical pattern; meanwhile, a spooky remix of Rock-a-bye Baby plays in the background.
Against the flashing colours, and placed between clips of a rocking crib, a nest on a branch, a close-up of a microorganism, and an egg falling from a tree, the screen focuses in on each celebrity: first, there’s a clip of returning lead Emma Roberts, then Delevingne, then Kardashian, all of whom are wearing long blonde white wigs and all of whom are pulling sunglasses slowly down their noses.
The teaser closes with a clip of Kim Kardashian holding a cloth-bound baby while staring at the camera.
The new series, which has been titled Delicate, doesn’t yet have a release date, but the clip teases that the original series is “coming soon”.
Listen closely. #AHSFX pic.twitter.com/sbg4yANbKC
— AmericanHorrorStory (@AHSFX) July 20, 2023
Although some American Horror Story fans are perplexed about the casting of Kardashian, others are excited to see the business mogul on screen.
“Kim K will star in American Horror Story and I’m here for it” commented one fan on Twitter, while another said, “I honestly believe Kim K can pull American Horror Story off… rooting for her.”
In a statement made to The Hollywood Reporter, co-creator Ryan Murphy (Glee) said: “Kim is among the biggest and brightest television stars in the world and we are thrilled to welcome her to the AHS family.
“Emma and I are excited about collaborating with this true force in the culture. Halley Feiffer has written a fun, stylish, and ultimately terrifying role, especially for Kim, and this season is ambitious and unlike anything we have ever done.”
Speaking at the Tribeca Film Festival in June, Zachary Quinto, who is best known for playing Spock in Star Trek (2009) said that he had a cameo on the upcoming American Horror Story season and that he had met Kardashian.
“She was so lovely and warm and, really, I don’t think she needs my advice,” he said to People. “She seemed really in her element, and I was really impressed by her spirit and her openness... I really look forward to seeing this season because I think she’s gonna do a wonderful job.”
But season 12 of American Horror Story is not only exciting its fans because of its casting: the upcoming season will be the first time the award-winning show has been written by one sole writer, and will also be the first time that the series is based on a book.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new season is based on Danielle Valentine’s Delicate Condition, a yet-to-be-released novel that has been described by reviewers as “the feminist update to Rosemary’s Baby we all needed” and “a chill blade into the softest and most vulnerable parts of the imagination”.
The book tells the story of a woman who starts to suspect that a dark force is working against her as she struggles to have a baby.
Feiffer, who has done the adaptation, is an actor and writer, best known for her highly acclaimed work as a playwright. Her 2015 play, I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard, was a Time Out New York Critics Pick and was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award, while her 2016 play, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City, was a New York Times Critic’s Pick and won the Edgerton New Play Award.
She has written a dozen other works, which have been developed at theatres in both London and New York.
Kardashian most recently acted in several comedy skits on Saturday Night Live, which she hosted in October 2021.
Roberts has previously starred in five seasons of the show: she joined the cast in 2013, and last acted in American Horror Story: 1984, which aired in 2019. Roberts recently starred in the Michael Jacobs romantic comedy Maybe I Do, alongside Diane Keaton, Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon. She will star in the upcoming Marvel superhero film Madame Web, which is set to be released next February.
Meanwhile, American Horror Story sees Delevingne return to the screen after a short hiatus. In 2022 the model and actor had a lead role in Steve Martin’s second season of Only Murders in the Building, and also starred in the anthology film Tell It Like a Woman.
American Horror Story is no stranger to casting celebrities. Most memorably perhaps, Lady Gaga joined the cast of the fifth season, Hotel, which aired in 2015. She won a Golden Globe Award in 2016 for her role in the series.
