‘American Horror Story’ renewed for Season 4

“American Horror Story� will live to frighten another day. FX announced on Wednesday that Ryan Murphy’s “miniseries franchise� would return for another cycle.

Murphy’s take on the horror genre, which involves a repertory group of actors performing completely different characters from season to season, has been a huge success for FX, with the third installment, “American Horror Story: Coven,� pulling in an audience 87% higher than last season in total viewers. Season 3, which has aired four of its 13 episode, is averaging 7.74 million viewers per episode.

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Additionally, the decision to cast it as a series of miniseries and not a traditional drama has paid off well for FX at the 2013 Emmys, where Season 2’s “American Horror Story: Asylum� grabbed 17 nominations, the most of any single program. The series has received a total of 34 nominations and four Emmy wins, including one for star Jessica Lange.

In a statement, FX Networks Chief Executive John Landgraf said, “Put simply, Ryan Murphy is a master television producer. Time and time again he reinvents the form.�

Each installment of the series has focused on a different aspect of the genre, with the first year telling the story of a haunted house, the second year focusing on a mental asylum and the current year exploring the lives of a coven of witches. No word yet on what Murphy plans for the fourth go-round.

The season finale of “Coven� is currently scheduled to air Jan. 29.

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