Orlando Jones Inherits Papa Legba in ‘American Horror Story’ and Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Orlando Jones is heading into the world of ‘American Horror Story‘, and the role attached to his name carries a lot of history. Jones is reportedly stepping into Papa Legba for the franchise’s thirteenth season, taking over a part Lance Reddick originated before his sudden death at 60. It is the kind of casting news that lands with both excitement and a little bit of reverence.
The Orlando Jones ‘American Horror Story’ crossover has plenty of fans talking, and for good reason. The season was scheduled to kick off its six week run with the first three episodes on FX, FXX and Hulu on September 24. That puts one of television’s most distinctive character actors in front of a franchise audience that knows exactly how special this role is.
Orlando Jones as Papa Legba
The casting has been framed as a replacement for a role that many viewers assumed was retired for good. The franchise cast list now credits Orlando Jones with the part of Papa Legba. That makes the move feel official in a way that early rumors never could.
Not everyone saw it coming either. CinemaBlend’s writer admitted they never expected Papa Legba to return after Reddick’s death, and said they were excited to see if the casting plays out that way. That honest mix of surprise and curiosity is probably how a lot of longtime viewers feel right now.
The same piece also pointed out that Jones would be playing someone vital to the story. That reading comes from the fact that the role appears to matter to the central plot of the season. For a gatekeeper character who trades in deals and souls, that kind of importance makes perfect sense.
Lance Reddick’s Legacy in the Role
Papa Legba became a fan favorite thanks to a very specific kind of screen presence. Reddick originated the role in ‘Coven’ and returned for ‘Apocalypse’, turning the soul dealing gatekeeper into one of the franchise’s most chilling figures with his deep voice and precise stillness. Few actors could make quiet menace feel that magnetic.
His loss still resonates across the industry. Reddick died on March 17, 2023, at 60. Any actor following him into the role was always going to face enormous expectations from the fan base.
That is what makes this recasting such a delicate piece of storytelling. The writers are bringing back a character who clearly matters to the audience, and they are trusting a new performer to honor what came before. It is a challenge, but it is also a form of tribute.
Why Jones Fits the ‘American Gods’ Connection
If you want to understand why this casting works on paper, look at what Jones has already done with mythic characters. Jones played the trickster god Anansi on ‘American Gods’, another ancient, witty and dangerous deity rooted in African diaspora mythology. That lines up neatly with the deals and souls energy that Papa Legba brings to the table.
His time on that show also carries some off screen drama that fans still remember. Jones was dismissed by new showrunner Chic Eglee ahead of the third season, and Jones said the decision was made because his role sent the wrong message to Black America. Seeing him land in another mythology heavy genre series feels like a meaningful next chapter.
Horror is not exactly new territory for him either. One of his early acting experiences involved playing a werewolf in a haunted house to raise money for a junior and senior prom. Decades later, he gets to play something far more sinister on a much bigger stage.
A Career Built for This Crossover Season
Jones has spent years building a résumé that stretches far beyond a single genre. He first came to prominence as an original member of the ‘MADtv’ ensemble after starting out as a staff writer and story editor on series such as ‘A Different World’. That blend of writing instinct and performer energy has served him well in every role since.
Fans of his dramatic work will also remember another supernatural series. He played Frank Irving across 31 episodes of ‘Sleepy Hollow’ between 2013 and 2015. His more recent credits include Martin Eddie in ‘Abbott Elementary’.
The season he is joining is built as a giant reunion. It is described as an Avengers style crossover pulling characters from across every season to face one ultimate evil, with the Coven witches and Marie Laveau heavily featured. Dropping a gatekeeper of the crossroads into that mix could shake up the whole board.
With Reddick’s performance still fresh in so many minds, does Jones’ take on Papa Legba need to echo the original to work, or should he be allowed to make the character completely his own as the season plays out?
