'American Horror Story': Neil Patrick Harris Arrives at the Freak Show

By
FX


Neil Patrick Harris
is joining the freak show.

The actor and real-life magician will join FX’s American Horror Story: Freak Show for the final episodes of the season, beginning in Jan. 7. Harris will play Chester, who Jessica Lange’s Elsa Mars toasts in the newly-released trailer as the "new owner" of the freak show.

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In the preview of upcoming episode "Magical Thinking," Harris’ character is shown seducing conjoined twins Bette and Dot Tattler (Sarah Paulson) into being his magician's assistant.

"Magic is about distracting an audience," he explains to the sisters. "And what better distraction than you two?"

"Because we’re freaks?" scoffs the ever-skeptical Dot.

"No," Chester insists. "Because you’re beautiful."

The trailer also reveals parts of Chester’s inevitable dark side, showing him during a blood-soaked performance of the famous "sawing a lady in half" trick and focusing on his constant companion, a creepy ventriloquist doll.

FX

"I’m sorry, she relaxes me," he tells the twins desperately.

"What a sicko," exclaims Finn Wittrock’s Dandy Mott, which, if you’ve seen the show at all, is really saying something.

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American Horror Story: Freak Show
returns to FX on Jan. 7.

In November, ET talked to AHS breakout star Jyoti Amge about her role as Ma Petite. See more from the interview in the video below.

Follow Meredith B. Kile on Twitter at @em_bee_kay.

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