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By Joseph Lamour and Stacey Grant

Even though just about everyone was dead by the last frame of American Horror Story: Hotel, we all knew that for the show's next season, there'd be a hard reset with a new theme, a new set of characters, and most importantly, a new setting.

The plot speculation that comes between every season of AHS is now part of show's magic, and any clue revealed is devoured by its ravenous fans.

That's why when Evan Peters -- the heartthrob who's appeared in all five seasons of AHS -- posted a bearded selfie on Instagram, we here at MTV News let the speculation run wild.

Is it fake? Is it real? Did Ryan Murphy commission it? Could it be... a clue about the new season? 😮 😮 😮

We literally have no idea. But, that won't stop us from taking guesses as to what plotline might involve such a luscious beard.

Check out all our theories below.

American Horror Story: Lycanthropy

American Horror Story: Gold Rush

American Horror Story: 1976 Conspiracy Theorist

American Horror Story: No Shave November

American Horror Story: Shipwrecked

American Horror Story: Brooklyn Coffee Shop

American Horror Story: Seattle Fixed-Gear Bike Shoppe

American Horror Story: Portland Bike Shop with a Cappuccino Machine Just Because

American Horror Story: If The Bear Won That Revenant Fight

American Horror Story: 17th Century Dutch Painter

American Horror Story: Duck Dynasty

American Horror Story: Joaquin Phoenix’s Understudy

American Horror Story: ZZ Top Cover Band

American Horror Story: Coachella

American Horror Story: Game of Thrones LARPers

American Horror Story: I'm A Lumberjack And I'm OK

American Horror Story: Dumbledore Rising

American Horror Story: /r/beards/

American Horror Story: Fighting the Hot