The thriller TV series "American Horror Story" is now on its fifth season, and the Season 5 of the show takes viewers to a hotel where a bloodsucking villainess called the Countess, to be played by Lady Gaga, resides. Before the show premieres on October 7, take a tour of Hotel Cortez, the location of Season 5 of the series.
Entertainment Weekly was able to get a first look of Hotel Cortez, the property that's the center of "American Horror Story Hotel." Based on the story of the show, the hotel dates back to 1930 and was built by a murderer named James March, which will be played by Evan Peters. In the TV series, the hotel is owned by Lady Gaga, the new villain in Season 5. The property is said to be filled with "dark corners" where the Countess can kill people and hide the evidence.
The online publication managed to talk to the show's production designer Mark Worthington, who was in charge of building the hotel's two-story lobby along with his team. The hotel for the TV series is reportedly not based on any actual hotel, but Worthington said that his inspirations for its design were art deco architects William Van Alen and Timothy Pflueger.
"Tonally, I thought [art deco] would make sense for the horror genre because it can be dark and spiky and odd and the composition is strange. It's beautiful, but it isn't necessarily inviting," Worthington shared.
Among the main features of the hotel is a staircase, which is said to be something that's evident in every "American Hotel Horror Story" show. For Season 5, the staircase features an elevator above it, where the action will reportedly mostly take place. According to Worthington, his team also took into consideration Lady Gaga's character for the production design of the set.
Meanwhile, show creator Ryan Murphy has revealed that Season 5 of "American Horror Story" may be linked with "Murder House," as he claimed that every season of the show is connected. In a separate report by Entertainment Weekly, he said that the show takes viewers back to "Murder House" for one episode, where Christine Estabrook will be featured.
According to TV Guide, Estabrook was the "irritating realtor" Marcy in "Murder House", and in "American Story Hotel," she'll be reappearing as the real estate agent for Hotel Cortez.
"American Horror Story" Season 5 "Hotel" will return to FX on Oct. 7.
