American Horror Story (season 10)

On August 3, 2018, the series was renewed for a tenth season, set to air in 2020.[1] On May 26, 2020, it was announced that season 10 would be pushed back to 2021 due to production being stalled because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[2] Following the interruption, series co-creator Ryan Murphy told in an interview with TheWrap that the delay could potentially change the season's theme, since his initial idea needed to be filmed during the warmer months of the year.[3] The following month, Murphy unveiled a promotional poster for the season via his Instagram account; the image features a wide-open mouth with razor-sharp teeth while a hand is tattooing "AHS 10" on the tongue.[4] The tenth season has received an estimated amount of $48 million in tax credits under the California Film Association's "Program 2.0" initiative.[5][lower-alpha 1]

Although it was initially reported that production was scheduled to resume filming in October,[6] cast member Lily Rabe confirmed to Digital Spy that filming will start on December 2.[7] In January 2021, 20th Century Studios filed an application to Provincetown's Board of Selectmen requesting the permission to film in various locations of town from February 1 to March 6 for a project titled Pilgrim, with the board eventually allowing it.[8] This fueled theories that the tenth season would be filmed in Provincetown following several hints left by Murphy and the cast on social media that mention the location and tropical-related imagery.[9][10]

In November 2019, Murphy announced that some cast members from the first three seasons may return for the upcoming tenth season, saying, "[T]he people who helped build this show into what it is, who believed in it from the beginning, have been contacted and are interested. So, if you look at the iconography of the first three seasons, you can figure who I've gone to and who might be coming back." He also said that the tenth season would be "about reuniting fan-favorite actors to come back."[12] Later that day, Sarah Paulson confirmed that she would be returning to the series for its tenth season in a lead role.[13] On February 26, 2020, Murphy published a video in his Instagram account revealing that Kathy Bates, Leslie Grossman, Billie Lourd, Evan Peters, Adina Porter, Lily Rabe, Angelica Ross, Finn Wittrock, and series newcomer Macaulay Culkin were cast in the tenth season.[14] In a May 2020 interview with E! Online, Murphy revealed that Culkin accepted his role after Murphy told him the characters' personality over the phone. He affirmed, "I told him he has crazy, erotic sex with Kathy Bates and does other things. And he paused and he goes, 'This sounds like the role I was born to play.' So, he signed up right then and there."[11] On November 18, Murphy announced the casting of actor Spencer Novich.[15]