American Horror Story is ushering in its tenth season with some major news. Fans already knew that series regulars Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson were coming back into the fold after missing the slasher-inspired ninth season. That alone is enough to celebrate, as they are beloved staples in the franchise. But no one could anticipate one major casting announcement dropped by series creator Ryan Murphy. He revealed via Instagram that Macaulay Culkin will star in American Horror Story season ten. This is it. Don’t get scared now, Kevin.
Right now, there are no details about this season’s theme, but Murphy’s dark video casting announcement hints that it will be as horrifying as its predecessors. The premiere date hasn’t been announced yet but the the show typically airs in the fall so perhaps it will be ready to go this September or October.
The announcement clip shows a deserted beach in black and white as “Dead of Night” by Orville Peck plays in the background. The names of the cast members flash across the screen in a familiar script. Culkin will join Kathy Bates, Leslie Grossman, Billie Lourd, Lily Rabe, Adina Porter, Finn Wittrock, and Angelica Ross, who joined the franchise last season.
It’s pretty exciting to see Culkin in such a major TV series considering his low-key lifestyle in recent years. After a whirlwind childhood career in movies like Home Alone, Richie Rich, and The Good Son, he stepped away from acting for nearly ten years to live a “normal” life. Since the late ’90s, he has had a few guest star and small/indie roles in between headlining a pizza-themed band and starting his Bunny Ears comedy brand.
Culkin came back into the public eye in a wonderfully hilarious manner during a 2018 Christmas commercial for Google Assistant, in which he portrayed a grown-up version of Kevin McAllister. He recently starred in Seth Green’s Changeland (2019) and had a small appearance in the Hulu show Dollface.
Macaulay Culkin also opened up to Esquire about his love for acting, professional projects, rumors about his past, and quiet personal life with his girlfriend. It seems he’s ready to be at least partially in the spotlight and there’s no better way to make a big appearance than starring on American Horror Story. The show’s campy, offbeat and sometimes weird vibe seems to fit well with his persona, and its anthology structure means he doesn’t have to commit to being in several seasons of a show. But if he decided to come back in future seasons, it wouldn’t be a problem for fans.
It will be interesting to see how his character fits into the narrative. Will he be a reoccurring face or a major player in this season? Will he be a protagonist or a villainous entity? A doomsayer warning everyone of impending horror? Can this season please let him set some ridiculous booby traps for ghosts? Let’s see how it all pans out. Either way, it’s exciting to see Macaulay Culkin kicking off this decade with a big comeback.
Featured Image: Google Assistant