American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy tells Entertainment Tonight that Lady Gaga’s role in the FX show’s hotel-themed fifth season “will shock people,” but that’s about the only detail he’s willing to spill for now. He is, however, dishing on what it was like bringing the pop star on board.
He says there was a reason why the news was kept secret for so long. “It was just something that she did very, very privately,” Ryan explains of the singer’s decision to join the anthology series. “It was sort of a creative investigation. My favorite thing in the world would be when I would, of the blue, get a call from her and they’d say, ‘Hold for Gaga.'”
The part in American Horror Story: Hotel will be Gaga’s first starring role in an acclaimed series, and she’s poised to be front and center now that Jessica Lange is departing the show. But Ryan is fully confident in her abilities. “Well, I haven’t seen her [acting] yet. But she studied acting and I think in many ways that’s what she wanted to do first,” he says. “I think she’s been looking for some outlet to really dig in there and create a character. I guarantee the role will shock people. What she’s playing.”
For now, details about that character are being guarded tightly, but on Sunday it was announced that White Collar actor Matt Bomer and 30 Rock’s Cheyenne Jackson will also be joining the cast. Ryan announced on Twitter Tuesday that Wes Bentley, who briefly guest-starred in American Horror Story: Freak Show, would be a series regular on AHS: Hotel.