Ryan Murphy stated that the clue for the theme of this season was not in season five, but in season one, and was an original idea for season one.
This season, Angela Bassett plays Cuba Gooding Jr.'s sister. Twenty-five years prior, she played his mother in Boyz n the Hood (1991).
During Paleyfest 2016, Ryan Murphy confirmed that Sarah Paulson, Angela Bassett, Matt Bomer, Wes Bentley, Finn Wittrock, Kathy Bates, Denis O'Hare and Cheyenne Jackson have all been asked to return for season six. However, the theme of next season was not announced, due to the writers still working on two different ideas.
After confirming the premiere date, FX announced that the sixth season will only have ten episodes, instead of the usual twelve (season one and five) or thirteen (season two, three and four). Ryan Murphy made the decision because he wanted to continue his plan to have two seasons this year.
Denis O'Hare said in an interview that he didn't have to shave his head this season, like in Hotel (as Liz Taylor), but that his character is very hairy instead. He also said that he couldn't tell anything about the season, just like Evan Peters. Peters, when asked to describe the season in three words, said "Gosh.. I don't know."