'American Horror Story' Season 6 Theme May Have Been Revealed

Getting cleared up? American Horror Story‘s next installment won’t premiere until Wednesday, September 14, but the mystery theme of the show’s sixth season might have just popped out to say “boo!” prematurely.

Ever since the first set of promos for the Emmy-winning FX series’ new season was revealed, along with the tantalizing news that this year’s installment could unspool in any one of several terrifying directions, fans have been falling all over themselves to figure out which of the available teasers represent the real deal. The demon baby? The hair-pulling shadow specter? The naughty nurse using a pair of garden shears to do a little outdoor deboning? 

The guessing games were supposed to continue straight through to the show’s premiere — along with a contest in which fans could try to predict the AHS theme in exchange for fabulous prizes. 

So.. American Horror Story: The Mist? #AHS6 pic.twitter.com/C1rlFgTzEw

— LOCAL SAD BOY (@lmTheSupreme) September 1, 2016

But fans with sharp eyes (and a print subscription to TV Guide) noticed this week that the magazine is playing fast and loose with what was supposed to be secret info, as the current issue’s listing for the season premiere reads “American Horror Story: The Mist.”

For those who’ve been keeping track of all the many spooky teaser trailers for season 6, this looks like a pretty sure sign that we’ve got monsters on the menu, as one of the clips shows a creepy stick figure crawling on all fours through a sick brown fog. 

Considering Ryan Murphy‘s love of classic horror tropes, a misty water-colored creature feature would certainly fit the bill — as anyone knows who’s ever seen The Mist (the 2007 flick based on Stephen King‘s novella) or The Fog (a 1980 classic by horror master John Carpenter). And hey, maybe it’s time to take the AHS action outside! After spending so much time hanging out in murder houses or checking into haunted hotels, we could all do with a little fresh air.

Of course, it’s also possible that this is just the latest red herring by FX and its wildly creative marketing department — and that “The Mist” is just a cover from whence the real theme will emerge on September 14.

An FX rep declined to comment about the new season. 

Tell Us: Are you excited for a season called “The Mist”?

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American Horror Story returns to FX Wednesday, September 14, at 10 p.m. ET.  

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