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| American Horror Story: 13 Cast: Orlando Jones Is the New Papa Legba. |
Orlando Jones plays Papa Legba in American Horror Story: 13, taking over the role previously portrayed by the late Lance Reddick in Coven and Apocalypse. The character’s return brings one of the franchise’s most recognisable supernatural figures back into the story, as Ryan Murphy’s thirteenth season revisits familiar faces, unresolved conflicts and the sort of otherworldly trouble that has kept the anthology running for years. Recasting a character so closely associated with Reddick is no small task, particularly when Papa Legba occupies such an important place in the show’s mythology. Jones, however, arrives with considerable experience playing mysterious figures, making him an intriguing choice for the latest chapter.
Papa Legba’s appearance also makes sense within the broader direction of AHS: 13. The season revisits the world of Coven, bringing together surviving witches such as Cordelia and Madison alongside deceased characters including Fiona Goode and Marie Laveau.
With Hell becoming a significant part of the unfolding conflict and the witches facing off against Satan, the supernatural gatekeeper’s return feels less like a random cameo and more like a necessary piece of the puzzle. After all, when a story starts dealing with the Underworld, someone has to manage the entrance. Apparently, even the afterlife cannot escape administrative responsibilities.
Jones inherits a character whose previous portrayal left a lasting impression on viewers. Reddick brought a distinctive combination of composure, authority and unsettling mystery to Papa Legba, making the figure feel powerful without relying on exaggerated theatrics.
Jones has his own screen presence, and his experience with supernatural storytelling gives him a useful foundation for the role. Rather than simply attempting to reproduce his predecessor’s performance, he has an opportunity to establish a different interpretation while preserving the qualities that make Papa Legba such a compelling part of American Horror Story.
The actor is no stranger to playing characters who exist somewhere between the ordinary and the extraordinary. One of his best-known supernatural roles was Mr Nancy in American Gods, where he brought considerable personality to a figure rooted in mythology.
That experience makes his casting in AHS: 13 particularly interesting, especially for viewers familiar with both series. Jones understands how to give larger-than-life characters a human presence without stripping away their strangeness. It is a useful skill in a franchise where the line between the living, the dead and everything in between has never been especially firm.
Jones began his career working behind the scenes as a writer on A Different World, where he also appeared in a small acting role. He subsequently worked on commercial campaigns for brands including 7-Up and McDonald’s before increasingly concentrating on performing. His move towards on-screen work helped establish him as a versatile entertainer, although his background in writing and comedy continued to inform his approach to acting.
His breakthrough in television came through MADtv, where he was among the original cast members. The programme gave him room to demonstrate his range as a performer, while the 1990s also saw him expand into writing, producing and other creative roles.
He worked on projects including Roc and The Sinbad Show, demonstrating that his interests extended well beyond appearing in front of a camera. Jones has spent much of his career moving between comedy, drama and genre entertainment, which makes him a relatively adaptable choice for a show as unpredictable as American Horror Story.
His film career has been equally varied. Jones appeared in Magnolia and The Replacements before taking on the role of Harry Block in the 2001 science-fiction comedy Evolution, starring alongside David Duchovny. The film became a notable entry in his career, giving him another opportunity to combine comic timing with the demands of a large-scale genre production. Since then, he has continued to work across film and television, building a body of performances that resists easy categorisation.
Television audiences may also recognise Jones as Frank Irving in Sleepy Hollow and Martin Eddie in Abbott Elementary. His other screen credits include Bloodhound and Til Death Do Us Part. Away from live-action performances, he has contributed voice work to video games including Halo 2 and L.A. Rush. This breadth of experience is relevant to his latest casting, as Papa Legba requires an actor capable of conveying authority and mystery without turning every scene into an elaborate display of supernatural menace.
My take is that casting Jones as Papa Legba is a smart move, provided the series gives him enough room to make the character his own. Replacing an actor as distinctive as Reddick inevitably invites comparisons, but trying to recreate an earlier performance beat for beat would hardly be the most interesting approach. Jones has the theatrical instincts, comic timing and genre experience to bring a different energy to the role.
His work in American Gods also suggests that he can handle mythology without making it feel like an overly serious history lesson. The bigger question is whether AHS: 13 will use Papa Legba as a meaningful presence or simply wheel him out because fans remember him. Nostalgia can be entertaining, but it is not a substitute for good storytelling. If the season gives him a proper purpose in its central conflict, this recasting could become one of its more rewarding decisions.
Ultimately, Orlando Jones brings fresh possibilities to Papa Legba in American Horror Story: 13 while stepping into a role that remains closely associated with Lance Reddick. The character’s return strengthens the season’s connection to Coven and Apocalypse, while Jones’s previous work suggests he has the experience to make the part distinctive in its own right.
Whether audiences embrace the new interpretation will depend on both the performance and the writing surrounding it. Do you think Jones is the right choice for Papa Legba, or will Reddick’s original portrayal remain the definitive version for you? Share your thoughts on the recasting and what you hope the character brings to the new season.