Background and info: American Horror Story’s heavy-hitting new Season 2 cast

Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story is getting an almost complete cast turnover for Season 2, and frankly, the cast is to die for. (Every season, the location and storyline for the show changes, this season it’s called American Horror Story: Asylum.)

Season 2 is set in a 1960s insane asylum in Boston, and Jessica Lange will play a nun who runs the mental institution.

Ryan Murphy told Broadcasting and Cable:

We picked Asylum because it not only describes the setting — an insane asylum run by Jessica Lange’s character which was formerly a tuberculosis ward — but also signifies a place of haven for the unloved and unwanted. This year’s theme is about sanity and tackling real life horrors.

Below we’re listing the amazing new cast. This is exciting!

Chloe Sevigny

Indie Film Princess (and former Big Love Sister Wife) Chloe plays Jessica Lange’s mortal enemy Shelly, a nymphomaniac. That sounds perfect. Grrr.

Joseph Fiennes

This Shakespeare in Love actor plays the object of Jessica Lange’s affection, and a higher-up at the institution.

James Cromwell

The amazing actor James Cromwell comes on as an antagonist, Dr. Arden, a psychiatrist at the asylum.

Mark Consuelos

Former All My Children Star, and Mr. Kelly Rippa, Mark is going to play a character named Spivey. The name alone is a little creepy.

Clea Duvall

Carnivàle actress joins the cast, but her roll isn’t being revealed. She’s probably another patient, but who knows?

Adam Levine

Maroon 5 singer and The Voice coach is going to play half of “The Lovers” with Channing Tatum’s wife Jenna Dewan. So far he’s been adequately impressed with the “Horror” aspect of filming the show. He tweeted “Shooting A.H.S. It’s C.A.F. (Creepy As F—).” (That’s him on set above.) Adam’s kind of a lightweight though, he’s been too scared to even watch the first season.

Jenna Dewan

A.k.a. Mrs. Channing Tatum! She’s playing Adam Levine’s Lover.

Chris Zylka

Chris had roles in the cancelled The Secret Circle, and this summer’s The Amazing Spiderman. He’s also dating Pretty Little Liars phemon Lucy Hale. He’s set to play Daniel, who’s a deaf-mute, and “most beautiful boy in the world.”

Franka Potente

This Run Lola Run and Bourne Identity actress will play a “mysterious” patient.

Blake Sheldon

A newcomer (not country singer, and Adam Levine’s The Voice co-star) who will play two characters.

American Horror Story: Asylum comes to FX October 2012. Returning cast members include Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson and Lily Rabe.