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Ryan Murphy posts first-look image of Paul Anthony Kelly for American Horror Story Season 13
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Jun 30, 7:48 PM EDT

Ryan Murphy posts first-look image of Paul Anthony Kelly for American Horror Story Season 13

The actor, who plays JFK Jr. in Love Story, was photographed with a dyed blonde look as Ryan Murphy previews a new appearance for the long-running FX anthology series’ 13th season.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Ryan Murphy has shared a first-look photograph of Paul Anthony Kelly ahead of American Horror Story Season 13, offering an early visual preview of the actor’s transformation for the next installment of the long-running anthology series. The photo, posted by Murphy, shows Kelly with dyed blonde hair, indicating a major shift from his prior on-screen look.

The Deadline report says Kelly’s new appearance is tied to his role for Season 13, reinforcing that production has moved into costume and character-development stages. The image is Murphy’s direct tease of what viewers can expect, though no additional plot details were provided in the report beyond the character look and the season framing.

Kelly is also known for playing JFK Jr. in Love Story, a separate project referenced in the report as part of his current body of work. By linking those two productions in the same coverage, the report situates American Horror Story as a new chapter immediately following his portrayal of the former first son in another Ryan Murphy-related television endeavor.

American Horror Story’s format has historically relied on casting announcements and appearance changes to report new season directions. In this instance, Murphy’s posted image functions as the primary piece of new information publicly described, with Kelly’s blonde hair serving as the most visible cue for his Season 13 characterization.

Deadline further identifies the photograph as part of a Murphy-driven marketing moment, published alongside the outlet’s June 30, 2026 coverage. The same piece includes an image credit credited to Deadline, with the image metadata listing GettyImages as the original photo source and tying the image to a Disney 2026 upfront red carpet event.

Beyond the photo itself, the report does not list additional cast members, episode counts, release dates, or character names for Season 13. It also does not describe how Kelly’s character connects to earlier seasons, or how the show’s current production plan will unfold for audiences.

For viewers and industry observers, the primary immediate takeaway is that production is actively preparing a new on-screen identity for Kelly, and Murphy is choosing a visual-first disclosure approach rather than a longer set of plot-specific details. The next concrete information for the series would be expected to come through subsequent cast announcements, promotional materials, or the show’s official distribution timeline.

Why It Matters

  • A character-focused photo tease is an early report of the production’s costume and casting direction for American Horror Story’s 13th season.
  • Kelly’s involvement links two different projects in the Ryan Murphy television ecosystem, keeping audience attention on his workload across series.
  • Visual reveal tactics like hair and appearance changes can shape audience expectations ahead of plot announcements, especially for an anthology format.
  • As marketing moves forward, more details such as character name, story framing, and release timing will likely become the next public milestone for Season 13.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Ryan Murphy posted a first-look photo of Paul Anthony Kelly for American Horror Story Season 13.
  • Kelly appears in the image with dyed blonde hair as part of his upcoming role for the series.
  • The coverage ties Kelly’s Season 13 appearance to his current credit as JFK Jr. in Love Story.
  • Deadline’s reporting notes the photo was shared as part of the promotion around the next American Horror Story season.
  • The report includes image metadata listing GettyImages and a Disney 2026 upfront red carpet context for the photograph.