Though it has been known that ‘American Horror Story: Hotel’ would be set in the fictitious Hotel Cortez and that there would obviously be paranormal events taking place, it seems that it is becoming clearer that this installment of the hit show will actually focus on bloodsuckers… just don’t call them vampires.

Creator Ryan Murphy stressed:

“I prefer the term ‘ancient blood virus.’  It’s not vampires.  It’s really a form of hemophilia in a way. There’s no capes and fangs.”

He revealed that The Countess, Lady Gaga’s character, is among those afflicted with this virus, as are her lovers Donovan (Matt Bomer) and Tristan (Finn Wittrock).

“Around the middle of the season, we sort of explore the origins of all that and her character and where [the virus] comes from.”

Since they do not have fangs (or capes), The Countess and her cohorts will have to extract human blood another way.  That’s where that funky glove comes in.  The monstrous-looking sheath was glimpsed in an early teaser trailer for this season.  It turns out that it isn’t just a fashion statement.

Costume designer Lou Eyrich described the creation of this prop, stating:

“Ryan wanted the glove to look like armor.  So we started there, kind of Daphne Guinness-esque. But we wanted to make it our own and again timeless – Is it an old glove? Is it a new glove? We wanted it to look both rock ‘n’ roll but old at the same time. But then the nail that pops out with diamonds on the edge to slice you.”

But who gets sliced and who does the slicing?  Here are some new pics that may give you a clue.

First is The Countess and Matt Bomer as Donovan, her longtime partner.  As Bomer describes their dynamic, “He’s very interested in domesticity and sort of nesting and hunkering down and having her to himself every now and then, and that doesn’t go over so well with her limitless hunger.”

That’s where Tristan comes in.  Finn Wittrock plays this character, a model, who finds himself drawn to The Countess.  “He’s got an addictive personality,” said Wittrock. “I think he’s hypersexual also. It makes him a prime candidate for the Countess’ charms and he is very willingly seduced and then turned by her.”

Kathy Bates plays Iris, who works the front desk at the Hotel Cortez and as it turns out, is Donovan’s overbearing mother, causing much resentment on his part.  Bates discussed their relationship by saying, “Iris is overprotective with a capital O, especially now since her son is ill.  She wants to be there every day to make sure he’s all right, and she’s very controlling that way.”

As fans very well know, Bates and Angela Bassett have been enemies in the previous installments of ‘AHS.’  Their relationship in ‘Hotel’ has yet to be revealed, but one new fact about her role as Ramona Royale, is that she is also a former lover of The Countess’… and doesn’t take kindly to rejection. “They are powerful women at opposite sides and at odds with one another, each believing that they’re right,” Bassett stated.  Expect Ramona and Donovan to team up against Gaga after she turns her attention to Tristan.

Wes Bentley plays John Lowe, a police detective investigating a serial killer known as the Ten Commandments Killer.  Lowe is a family man, married to Chloe Sevigny’s character Alex, but as Sevigny says, “We are dealing with a great loss in our family and coming to grips with that, among other things.”

Bentley added, “He has a family he loves very much but that is sort of falling apart.  It’s clear most of what John struggles with is control.”

Evan Peters’ role as Mr. March has been kept under wraps, but finally some surprising details have emerged.  For starters, Mr. March will appear in flashbacks to the 1930s.  He is the man responsible for the construction of the Hotel Cortez.  Says Peters, “He is unique.  He’s designed a hotel to cater to his specific needs, which tend toward the dark evil.”

Then there is fellow returning alum, Sarah Paulson‘s character Hypodermic Sally.  “She’s selfish,” Paulson revealed, “She will put a stiletto in your face if it means she can get what she needs. But she’s also like a broken rag doll.  [Sally] hate[s] Iris in a rather ancient way for reasons that are revealed quickly. I have a sort of budding relationship with Wes’ character.”

Newcomer Naomi Campbell plays an unnamed Vogue editor who makes the poor decision to stay at the Hotel Cortez.  Campbell says, “She’s kind of outlandish,” says Campbell. “She thinks she’s indestructible and nothing’s going to hurt her.”  Except maybe razor-sharp diamond claws?

Fellow newbie, Max Greenfield describes his character by saying, “He’s a Hollywood junkie.  Originally, he had a job and was more preppy or business. And Ryan [Murphy] came back and was like, ‘I think we should be more rock and roll.’”  It was previously revealed that his character will tangle with Hypodermic Sally.

Are these teases getting you more excited to check into ‘American Horror Story: Hotel’?

‘American Horror Story: Hotel’ opens for business on Wednesday October 7th on FX.  This installment also Denis O’Hare as Liz Taylor, Cheyenne Jackson as Will Drake, Richard T. Jones as Detective Hahn, plus  Emma Roberts, Helena Mattsson and Mädchen Amick.

Sources: Entertainment Weekly, Variety