American Horror Story: Apocalypse: 5 Things to Know About the Crossover Season

After all the mystery surrounding the lead-up to both Roanokeand Cult, we're relieved to report that Ryan Murphy has decided to forgo the intense secrecy for the upcoming season American Horror Story: Apocalypse. When stars Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd and Adina Porter, along with executive producer Alexis Martin Woodall, participated in a panel at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour, they were surprisingly candid about what to expect of Apocalypse.

Did they reveal everything? Of course not! This is still American Horror Story, after all. However, we definitely left the event knowing a lot more about the latest installment of the franchise. Here are the juiciest tidbits they dropped about Apocalypse.

1. It will be about a literal apocalypse. Subtly is a rarity when it comes to Ryan Murphy, so it should come as no surprise that Apocalypse is about an actual apocalypse. "The story begins with the end of the world and then our world begins," teased Woodall.

And given the previous announcement that the antichrist Michael Langdon will return, now played by Cody Fern, we wouldn't be too shocked if the apocalypse was tied closely to Vivien Harmon (Connie Britton) and Tate Langdon's (Evan Peters) son. "The devil doesn't ever really do anything good," Woodall quipped.

2. Jessica Lange will return. Paulson shared the exciting news that AHS OG Lange will return for the sixth episode of the season as her Murder House character Constance Langdon. The last time we saw Constance she was raising Michael and didn't seem too troubled by his murderous ways, so we can only imagine the twisted things she's gotten up to over the past decade.

3. Some of your other favorite characters will be back too! Paulson confirmed that she'd be reprising her roles as both Coven's Cordelia and Murder House's Billie Dean. And the star will once again be taking on triple duty this season, playing a new American Horror Story character, Venable -- although details on her new character are being kept tightly under wraps.

Roberts also confirmed she'd be returning as Madison Montgomery despite Madison's death at the end of Coven. But Madison's been brought back from the dead once before, so we doubt the show will have to do too much narrative gymnastics to explain her resurrection in Apocalypse. Hell, we wouldn't be too surprised if Michael Langdon resurrected her to help orchestrate the apocalypse! Madison is definitely someone who'd rather watch the world burn than live under someone else's rules.

Additionally, Roberts also revealed Madison will be even bitchier this season than in Coven, so we don't exactly expect her to get up to a lot of good in Apocalypse.

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4. These are some of the new characters joining the universe. Bates revealed that she wouldn't be returning as her Coven character Madame LaLaurie but would instead be taking on the new role of Ms. Mead. Adina Porter, who appeared in an episode of Murder House as Sally Freeman, will also be playing a new character, Dinah Stevens. Additionally, Billie Lourd will play someone named Mallory while Leslie Grossman will star as the delightfully named Coco St. Pierre Vanderbilt.

5. Cordelia is still the Supreme. When Apocalypse picks up, Cordelia will still be ruling the coven. However, according to Paulson, her reign may not continue for much longer. "She is the Supreme for now," Paulson teased. "At the beginning of our story, that is the title she still holds. I don't know how long that is going to last."

American Horror Story: Apocalypse premieres Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 10/9c on FX.