September 19, 2023
Angelica Ross Lost Out on Marvel Role Waiting to Hear About AHS Season 11
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
"American Horror Story" Season 9 and 10 star Angelica Ross said in a TikTok that Ryan Murphy left her "on read" when it came to Season 11 – and the unmade installment would have had an all-Black female cast, according to The Wrap.
In screenshots of messages between the star and the openly gay writer and producer, Murphy allegedly asks, "Remember your idea about a Horror seasons starring Black women?"
"Well I'm doing it," the message purportedly from Murphy adds. "Not sure of the story yet, but we will start a writers room in the fall. Along with you, who are the four women I should get? I think you, Keke Palmer, Gabby ... not sure of the fourth?"
Ross, who is openly transgender and had also starred in Murphy's 1980s-set NYC ballroom scene drama "Pose," gave her input, suggesting a number of Black women, "including Debbi Morgan, Lynn Whitfield, Alfre Woodard, Angela Bassett, Gabrielle Union, Viola Davis, Kerry Washington, Lupita Nyong'o, Halle Berry and Amiyah Scott," The Wrap detailed.
Ross even offered to be part of the writing team.
Instead, AHS Season 11 turned out to be "NYC," a story about the city's gay community being preyed upon by a serial killer in 1981 – the eve of the AIDS crisis – while the police department did nothing about it.
Ross "revealed that she was on a 'first position' seven-year contract with FX," American Horror Story Wiki relayed. "This meant that as a series regular she could not work elsewhere without the network's approval."
Eventually, Ross "had to turn down a proposal from Marvel because FX stalled in releasing her," AHS Wiki went on to add.
Ross detailed in a different social media post that, "After sending flowers and no response I sent one last email in Feb. 2022 (it took about a year to film season 10 due to COVID) while still contractually in first position with the show."
"Mind you, Marvel had called twice now," Ross added. "I haven't heard from him since."
"AHS" Season 12, "Delicate" – starring Kim Kardashian, Cara Delevingne, and Emma Roberts – is set to premiere on Sept. 20.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
