American Horror Story is known for casting huge stars, and they’re about to do it again for the final two episodes of Freak Show.
How I Met Your Mother alum Neil Patrick Harris is joining season 4 as a “chameleon salesman,” according to TVLine. But he won’t be alone: Harris’ husband, David Burtka, has been cast as well. Burtka will be involved in a “sexy storyline” with Jessica Lange’s character, Elsa Mars.
NPH is set to appear in the final two episodes, while his husband will guest star in the season finale.
This casting news has been a few years in the making. The couple was offered to join the very first season of American Horror Story, but they declined after having played a couple in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Zachary Quinto and Teddy Sears were cast in those roles instead.
In July of this year, Harris was interviewed by EW Radio and said, “I wrote a letter to [creator Ryan Murphy] asking if I can be in it, even though I wasn’t even available to be in it. … I just love those series and Coven was fantastic. … To do one that involves any kind of freak, circus nonsense is going to be so unsettling to watch.”
Murphy responded on Twitter saying, “Of course you can be on Freak Show! I have a role I think you’d love.”
Then he provided more details earlier this month, telling TVLine, “He had very specific ideas for what he wanted to do, and I had very specific ideas, so we’re working on melding those. … I’d love to see him and Jessica Lange go at it in a really cool, fun way. Neil seems to be intrigued by that notion.”
This won’t be the first time Murphy and Harris have worked together. The actor guest starred as Bryan Ryan in season 1 of Glee, and walked away with an Emmy Award for Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. Could something similar happen with him this time?
Neil Patrick Harris has been in the news for quite a few months now. He starred on Broadway this spring and summer in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (for which he won a Tony for Best Lead Actor in a Musical), and has been hitting the talk show circuit in recent weeks to promote his memoir, Choose Your Own Autobiography. Two weeks ago, he signed on to host the 2015 Oscars, and just this week, NBC announced that he will host his own variety show, with a reported initial order of 10 episodes.
Are you excited that Neil Patrick Harris and his husband are joining American Horror Story? What would you like to see their characters do in the final two episodes of the season?
American Horror Story: Freak Show airs Wednesdays at 10pm on FX.
(Image courtesy of WENN)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
Jeff Dodge, a graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena.
