New Details on AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN
American Horror Story: Coven is set to premiere in October and several of the series' stars appeared at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour. There they offered up some new details on the highly anticipated third season of this awesome series.
THR did a breakdown of five things we should know about the series as discussed by executive producer Tim Minear and stars Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, and Angela Bassett.
This sounds like it's going to be yet another awesome season! I can't wait! Check out what we have to look forward to...
1. Lange plays a witch named Fiona. "Some of us play witches, some of us play historical characters," she told the assembled press. "I do play a witch. We move back and forth in time. It encompasses a lot of different stories. I've shot two days so far, one day entrances and exists, the other day a scene. I don't know who the character is yet. It comes in little dribs and drabs."
2. Bates plays Madame LaLurie, a Louisiana-born socialite and serial killer who kept slaves bound in her home. Instrestingly enough, Bates' great grandfather was the personal physician to Andrew Jackson, who lived next door to her. "I think he would have been there just before she left," Bates said.
3. Bassett portrays Marie Laveau, a voodoo expert who with her daughter had a big multiracial following. The actress noted that she's been approached by several individuals interested in voodoo in New Orleans for consultation should she need it. "It's been interesting being in New Orleans, there's such a regard and respect for who she was," Bassett said. "She was a woman in 1801 who lives to be 80 years old who is a very influential person in the city. My character is based loosely on her."
4. Paulson plays Cordelia, the daughter to Jessica Lange's Fiona. This season, Minear said, will focus themes of oppression of minorities of all kinds. "Within that idea, the idea of minority groups going after each other and doing the work of the larger culture for the larger culture [will be explored]," Minear said. "While there is a strong feminist theme that runs throughout Coven this year, there are also themes of race, oppression and there is a very strong theme of family, specifically mothers and daughters." Minear noted it would be safe to think of Cordelia in line with the character in William Shakespeare's King Lear.
5. Coven will also feature Salem witches fleeing to the south, Minear said, noting there are two kinds of witches in the world. Among the changes in Coven, Minear said this season will be more fun. "This year is a drama but there is a lot of humor and we are embracing a kind of velocity and fun with the series," he said. "It's not the same as it was the past two years but I think it can be more fun for the audience."