Michael Chiklis will star on the upcoming fourth season of FX’s “American Horror Story,” it was announced at the PaleyFest panel for “American Horror Story” on Friday.

Chiklis, who starred in the FX hit “The Shield,” will play the father of Evan Peters’ character and the ex-husband of Kathy Bates‘ character, series co-creator Ryan Murphy said during the panel.

The fourth season of “American Horror Story” is subtitled “Freak Show,” and will take place in Florida, though it will be filmed in New Orleans, Murphy said.

Also read: ‘American Horror Story’ Season 4 Title Revealed

Murphy added that “every person on this stage” — an assemblage that included Bates, Sarah Paulson, Emma Roberts, Angela Bassett and Gabourey Sidibe — would be returning “in some capacity.”

Murphy introduced Chiklis as “somebody I have loved for many, many years and have courted for many years.”

“I can’t think of a better way than to come back to my home network than to join this magnificent cast … it’s the first time I’ve seen you all in one stretch, and it’s insane how many incredible actors are in this cast,” Chiklis said, adding that he’s “so thrilled” to be in the cast.

“It’s going to be crazy, and we’re going to scare you,” Chiklis added.

Asked if he knew what he was in for, and that his head could end up separated from his body — as Bates’ head was in “American Horror Story: Coven” — Chiklis was nonchalant.

“I have no doubt, I’ve seen the show. I’ve done the face cast, I’ve done that sort of thing. Remember, I played The Thing. I’m ready, I’m up for it,” Chiklis said, referencing his role in “Fantastic Four.” “Whatever comes my way, I’m up for it.”

“When Ryan brought me in, and we met, he pitched the idea and we talked about what we are going to do, I said to him. ‘I’m terrified, and I’m going to do it.’ So that’s just a bit of a tease, because I would never divulge what he said … but I can say that my heart is pounding like it is right now,” Chiklis said. “It is a freak show. But as actors that’s what we love to do, we love to take risks and take chances and do things that are challenging, and I thought, ‘Oh, my god, I’m gonna be up to my eyes in it.”