American Horror Story's future depends on Ryan Murphy, says executive 

Since its chilling debut in 2011, American Horror Story has created a remarkable legacy as television's greatest horror anthology. With every season featuring a unique narrative — from haunted homes and evil asylums to witch covens and apocalyptic destruction — the FX series has been able to reboot itself over and over. Behind this success is Ryan Murphy, the prolific showrunner whose fearless storytelling and recruitment of recurring stars such as Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, and Jessica Lange made the show both a national and international phenomenon.

Though AHS season 13 has already received a green signal, what's next is not certain. In an interview with Deadline recently, Disney Television Group president Eric Schrier gave fans a ray of hope — and a reminder that the fate of the show rests solely on one man's shoulders.

Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story: A franchise that reinvents horror- one Season at a time

When asked if there could be an American Horror Story beyond its 13th season, Schrier was clear that there are no other seasons on order right now. He did emphasise, though, that the brand was built to last due to its anthology format and its connection to Ryan Murphy. Talking about the show and Ryan Murphy, he said:

I think yes, as long as Ryan has an idea. The way we work with Ryan is different than with other creators, he’s in a select few group of people that, if he has a great idea for another American Horror Story, and that’s something that [FX Networks chairman] John [Landgraf] and the team at FX really want to do, we’re going to figure it out.

We don’t have another incarnation of American Horror Story ordered, but it’s a franchise that, by design, can always be rebooted. And so when Ryan has an idea that is great and can figure it out with his schedule of all the things that he’s doing, I could very well see us doing another installment.

Future of AHS

The greatest revelation of Schrier's statements is that American Horror Story isn't like any normal long-running show. As a matter of fact, season 13 was commissioned as far back as 2020 under a four-season renewal when the show was just finishing up season 9. This provided Murphy and FX with some time to plan several seasons down the road, but also signifies that additional seasons won't come automatically unless Ryan Murphy is creatively on board.

With Murphy's hectic schedule — whose other big-time projects include Netflix's Monster anthology and 9-1-1 (which is now on ABC) — viewers might need to wait a bit longer between seasons if he's working on something else. That being said, the greatest thing about the show's structure is that it doesn't need a constant, serialised narrative. Each season stands on its own, with fresh characters, environments, and horror to tackle.

In fact, season 12 was the first time Ryan Murphy did not directly oversee the show, instead leaving the reins to others. This change indicates that AHS can get by — and maybe even do better — without him at the helm each time, provided his vision continues to define the larger picture.

Reinvention of AHS

American Horror Story has lasted so long because it keeps changing and trying new things. Every season offers something unique and exciting, like the chilling scares of Murder House or the mind-bending fear of Asylum. The best part of the show is its format, which tells a new story each season. This allows new actors and directors to join in, brings fresh stories, and helps the show stay current and interesting for viewers.

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If Ryan Murphy keeps coming up with great horror ideas or helps others to do so, there's no reason American Horror Story can't continue past season 13. Even if the show takes a break, its format means it can come back even stronger, scarier, and more creative than before. The ability to change and adapt will allow it to keep surprising and entertaining fans. As Schreir's said:

It’s a franchise that, by design, can always be rebooted

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