Ryan Murphy has already joked about putting Mickey Mouse in “American Horror Story,” and too soon

When the Disney/21st Century Fox merger was announced just before the holidays, it shook the entertainment industry, leading millions to wonder how Fox’s vast television and film assets would take shape under the house of mouse. Now, one of Fox’s top talents — Ryan Murphy — is sharing his thoughts about the merger and how his vast television empire could continue to thrive under Disney.

During the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, Ryan Murphy revealed that news of the Fox-Disney merger made him “emotional” as he’s spent the majority of his career churning out hit after hit for Fox television, and added that he had been told he was “unemployable” and “niche” before he created Nip/Tuck, his first series for the media corporation.

Since then, Murphy’s become one of Fox’s biggest hit makers, creating Glee, American Horror Story, American Crime Story, Feud, and most recently, 9-1-1.

Speaking at TCA about how his very non-Disney portfolio could continue under the Disney banner, Murphy joked about a terrifying new season of American Horror Story featuring the world’s most famous mouse. He said that during a conversation with Disney Chairman CEO Bob Iger, he outright asked about whether he’d have to adapt his shows to the Disney model.

“I said, point blank, ‘The stuff that I do is not specifically Disney, and I’m interested in that, and I’m concerned about that.’ I’m like, ‘Do I have to put Mickey Mouse in American Horror Story?' Murphy recalled. “And [Iger] was very sweet and transparent and kind, and he said, ‘No, the reason that Disney was interested in buying Fox is because they believed in the assets and they believed in the executives and the creators.’"

But while Iger was reassuring during their conversation, Murphy revealed that he’s not going to rush into making any decisions just yet. He said that he’s waiting to see what’s happening before he makes any decisions about where to take his vast television empire, adding that he also wants to make sure the community of people working with him are supported as well.

“It’s not just me at this point, he said. “I’ve created a group that is really trying to move the bar forward in terms of hiring women, hiring minorities, getting equal pay for women, and I want to continue that wherever I go. So wherever I go, I want to make sure that that community is taken care of.

But despite the uncertainty moving forward, Murphy reiterated his appreciation for Fox in allowing him to create a portfolio of series that “weren’t supposed to work.” He explained that Fox gave him the creative liberties to “follow [his] interest and passions,” adding that he thought he was going to be buried on the Fox lot.

While Ryan Murphy may not be sure about what the future holds for his empire, we have a feeling that wherever he ends up, he’ll continue to churn out the best and most compelling shows on television.