At the Comic-Con panel for American Horror Story: Freak Show yesterday, executive producer Tim Minear promised the "best season" yet of this beloved FX drama.

He also revealed that it’s the program's “scariest creation so far" will be the carnival's main monster - and it will be played by John Carroll Lynch.

As for the characters who will make up this freaky circus, set in 1950s Florida and portrayed by a slew of huge names? They will be:

• Emma Roberts is playing Maggie.
• Sarah Paulson is playing twins Bette and Dot Tattler.
• Kathy Bates is playing Effil Darling.
• Michael Chiklis is playing Wendell del Tolito (the ex-husband of Darling).
• Angela Bassett is playing Desiree Dupre (the wife of Chiklis' character).
• Evan Peters is playing Jimmy Darling (del Tolito's son).
• Jessica Lange is playing Elsa Mars.

American Horror Story: Freak Show will kick off in October.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.