Emma Roberts and Evan Peters Reunite for American Horror Story Seven Years After Split

Former couple Emma Roberts and Evan Peters shared a stage for the first time in years, reuniting to announce their involvement in American Horror Story season 13. The reunion occurred Tuesday, May 12, at the 2026 Disney Upfronts presentation at New York City's Javits Center—seven years after they ended their engagement in March 2019.

The Reunion

The Scream Queens star (35) and The Beauty actor (39) appeared onstage alongside fellow AHS veterans Sarah Paulson, Angela Bassett, Gabourey Sidibe, and Billie Lourd to reveal casting details for the anthology series' thirteenth season.

Also joining the ensemble is Paul Anthony Kelly, 37, who signed on for his first major role following his breakout performance as John F. Kennedy Jr. in FX's Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.

"I guess every nightmare needs fresh blood... and thirteen's my lucky number," Kelly said during the presentation.

Season 13 Details

The upcoming installment promises to "do justice to everyone's most feared number," according to FX. Several fan-favorite cast members will reprise iconic roles from previous seasons, creating connective tissue across the anthology's thirteen-year history.

Ryan Murphy teased Roberts' return via Instagram in early April, posting a video where she sat at a piano before turning to deliver Madison Montgomery's signature line: "Surprise bitch. Bet you thought you'd seen the last of me."

The caption simply read: "@emmaroberts Returns as Madison Montgomery. AHS 13 September."

Madison Montgomery, Roberts' character from Coven and Apocalypse, remains one of the franchise's most beloved antiheroes—a narcissistic witch whose acidic one-liners and morally ambiguous choices made her a fan favorite.

Their Complicated History

Roberts and Peters' relationship spanned seven years, marked by intense highs and public lows. They met filming the 2013 indie comedy Adult World and sparked romance rumors in summer 2012. PEOPLE confirmed their engagement in January 2014 after Peters proposed over the holidays.

In 2014, Peters spoke enthusiastically about working with his then-fiancée on American Horror Story in New Orleans.

"You're at set and you're in a city that you don't really know that well. It's nice to have your best friend there to go to dinner with and check out the city," he told PEOPLE exclusively.

However, their relationship experienced significant turbulence. In July 2013, Roberts was arrested in connection with domestic violence in Montreal, Canada, involving Peters. Their representatives issued a joint statement calling it "an unfortunate incident and misunderstanding." Roberts was released after questioning, and the couple worked to move past the incident.

They called off their engagement in 2015 but reconciled soon after before ending the relationship permanently in early 2019.

Moving Forward

Both actors have since moved on personally while maintaining professional careers that occasionally intersect through Ryan Murphy's expansive television universe.

Roberts began dating Garrett Hedlund in March 2019. They welcomed son Rhodes in December 2020 before splitting in January 2022 with a focus on co-parenting. She's currently engaged to Cody John, whom she went public with in August 2022.

Peters debuted his relationship with Natalie Engel at Milan Fashion Week in 2024.

The Professional Reunion

Tuesday's Upfronts appearance marked their first public reunion since the split. Photos from the event showed Roberts and Peters standing beside each other onstage, presenting a united professional front despite their complicated romantic history.

For actors who spent years working together across multiple American Horror Story seasons while navigating an on-again, off-again relationship, this reunion represents both a full-circle moment and evidence of their ability to separate personal history from professional obligation.

Why This Matters for AHS

American Horror Story, co-created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, debuted in 2011 and has earned dozens of Emmy nominations across its twelve seasons. The anthology format allows Murphy to assemble different casts each season while occasionally bringing back fan favorites in new roles or reprising beloved characters.

Season 13's promise to feature "several fan-favorite cast members reprising iconic roles" suggests Murphy is leaning into nostalgia and interconnected storytelling—a strategy that worked successfully in Apocalypse, which brought together characters from Murder House and Coven.

Roberts returning as Madison Montgomery taps directly into that nostalgia. The character's death in Coven and subsequent resurrection in Apocalypse established her as someone who can plausibly appear across timelines and storylines.

Peters' involvement (though his specific role hasn't been detailed) adds another layer of franchise continuity. He's portrayed multiple characters across AHS seasons, from Tate Langdon in Murder House to Kai Anderson in Cult to Mr. March in Hotel.

The Cast Reunion Energy

Having Paulson, Bassett, Sidibe, Lourd, Roberts, and Peters together creates a sense of AHS legacy. These aren't just actors appearing in season 13—they're franchise pillars whose involvement signals Murphy is making something significant.

Paulson and Bassett particularly anchor the series' credibility. Paulson has appeared in nine seasons, delivering consistently acclaimed performances. Bassett's work, especially in Coven and Freak Show, brought gravitas and Emmy-nominated excellence.

Adding newcomer Paul Anthony Kelly to this veteran ensemble creates interesting dynamics. Kelly arrives with momentum from Love Story, where critics praised his sensitive portrayal of JFK Jr. Placing him alongside AHS legends will either elevate him or expose whether he can match their intensity.

September Release

Season 13 premieres in September, giving Murphy and his team several months to build anticipation through teasers, trailers, and carefully orchestrated social media reveals.

The September timing positions AHS for fall horror season—when audiences are primed for scares as Halloween approaches. This scheduling has served the franchise well historically.

Streaming Availability

All previous American Horror Story seasons stream on Hulu, allowing new viewers to catch up or fans to revisit favorite installments before season 13 arrives.

This accessibility matters for an anthology series banking on nostalgia and returning characters. Viewers who missed Coven when it originally aired can now experience Madison Montgomery's introduction before her season 13 return.

The Elephant in the Room

Roberts and Peters' reunion will inevitably generate tabloid speculation and fan commentary beyond the AHS announcement itself. Their relationship's public nature—the engagement, the domestic violence arrest, the breakups and reconciliations—means their professional interaction carries extra weight.

To their credit, both actors have maintained professionalism throughout their careers despite personal complications. Roberts continued thriving in film and television. Peters delivered career-best work in Mare of Easttown and Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

This Upfronts appearance suggests they've reached a place where working together doesn't require avoiding each other or creating uncomfortable on-set dynamics. That maturity benefits everyone involved in production.

What to Expect

Season 13 will likely deliver American Horror Story's signature blend of camp, genuine horror, social commentary, and interconnected mythology. Murphy's track record suggests bold creative swings—some landing brilliantly, others missing the mark.

The emphasis on the number thirteen and "everyone's most feared number" implies superstition-based horror, possibly exploring triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13) through Murphy's characteristically twisted lens.

Roberts' Madison Montgomery returning means witchcraft elements from Coven will likely feature prominently. Whether season 13 directly continues Coven/Apocalypse storylines or uses Madison in a completely new context remains to be seen.

The Verdict

Emma Roberts and Evan Peters reuniting for American Horror Story season 13 represents professional maturity overcoming personal history. Their willingness to work together seven years post-breakup demonstrates commitment to the franchise that helped define both their careers.

For AHS fans, this reunion promises season 13 will lean heavily into franchise nostalgia while incorporating fresh blood through Paul Anthony Kelly and potentially other newcomers.

September can't come fast enough for horror fans ready to see what Murphy has conjured for this unlucky-number season.

And for Madison Montgomery fans? The surprise bitch is back.

American Horror Story season 13 premieres September 2026 on FX. Previous seasons stream on Hulu.