American Horror Story Recasting: The Roles Angela Bassett Should’ve Played

Angela Bassett has appeared in five seasons of American Horror Story thus far, but the legendary actress could have appeared in every installment based on the existing roles. Across those five seasons working on the horror anthology from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, Bassett played a handful of key characters. She quickly became one of the go-to cast members invited to return season after season. Though she didn’t star in every season to date, there are clear roles Bassett could have filled in the installments she wasn’t involved in.

Bassett officially made her American Horror Story debut in season 3, playing the role of Marie Laveau. The voodoo priestess had a complicated relationship with the Coven witches, including the Supreme, Fiona Goode. Bassett later reprised the role of Marie in season 8, Apocalypse, assisting the Coven against the Antichrist after she was freed from hell. In Freak Show, the actress portrayed Desiree Dupree, a performer at Elsa’s Cabinet of Curiosities. Basset then went on to play Romona Royale in Hotel before dual roles as Lee Harris and Monet Tumusiime in Roanoke.

Aside from Bassett’s brief appearance in Apocalypse, her last prominent role in American Horror Story came in season 6. With the series heading into season 10, many fans wonder if Bassett will ever make her grand return. Seeing as she’s currently starring as Sergeant Athena Grant in Murphy and Falchuk’s procedural series 9-1-1, there’s a good chance Bassett will make her way back to the American Horror Story franchise. If the award-winning actress remained on the horror series, there were multiple roles that would have suited her well. The same goes for the two seasons that aired before her series debut in Coven.

Marcy In American Horror Story: Murder House

Marcy wasn’t a leading character in American Horror Story: Murder House, but the character originally played by Christine Estabrook was a memorable figure. The realtor that sold the haunted mansion to the Harmon family had a recurring role. She initially seemed like a pleasant person, but in reality, she was a gossiping schemer. The role would have given Bassett the chance to pop in and out of the show’s first season, interacting with other headlining names. It would have been thrilling to see the actress play a ruthless realtor that had the chance to reappear in Hotel. Following her murder in the Hotel Cortez, Marcy became trapped in the building, but she bonded with some of the other spirits. Just because Bassett played another character that season, there was no reason she couldn’t also portray Marcy. The anthology series never veered away from allowing actors to portray more than one face in the same season.

Mother Claudia In American Horror Story: Asylum

With American Horror Story 2 being set in the 1960s, race relations were still a major issue. Rather than be a target of the facility’s racist employees as a patient, Bassett could have instead played Mother Claudia (Barbara Tarbuck), the Mother Superior of Sister Jude’s old convent. Unlike the other leaders in Asylum, Mother Claudia was caring and compassionate. Not only did she help Lana Winters’ escape from Briarcliff, but she remained in support of Sister Jude. If it wasn’t for her help, Briarcliff might have never been shut down. Viewers wouldn’t have passed on the chance to see Bassett in a heroic role. Mother Claudia might not have been used as a starring figure, but she was easily one of Asylum‘s most underrated figures.

Ivy Mayfair-Richards In American Horror Story: Cult

Bassett didn’t directly appear in American Horror Story: Cult, but she did direct the episode titled “Drink the Kool-Aid.” As one of the horror anthology’s most iconic actresses, Cult could have featured even more star power if Bassett had a role in season 7. She could have played Ivy Mayfair-Richards, the conniving wife of Sarah Paulson’s Ally. Pairing up the two leading ladies would have resulted in the ultimate on-screen power couple. Bassett’s involvement would have also added an extra level of intrigue during the season’s big twist. The character, played by Alison Pill, ended up being a member of Kai Anderson’s cult to purposely drive Ally mad before her wife turned the tables on her. Ivy ended up getting killed for her actions, but the role was intriguing to follow nonetheless.

Wilhemina Venable In American Horror Story: Apocalypse

Technically, Bassett appeared in season 8 by reprising her Coven role as the high priestess of voodoo magic, Marie Laveau. Viewers welcomed her return alongside fellow familiar faces from season 3 and Murder House. Other cast members, however, subsequently starred in Apocalypse as more than one character. That should have been the case with Bassett seeing as she didn’t have a starring role in the series since season 6’s Roanoke. Out of the new characters, Bassett could have easily been cast as Wilhemina Venable; a role played by Sarah Paulson. As the leader of Outpost 3, Wilhemina was authoritative, manipulative, and intimidating. These are all qualities that Bassett could have emulated if given the chance.

Donna Chambers In American Horror Story: 1984

American Horror Story: 1984 primarily featured a younger cast of twenty-somethings hired as counselors to work at Camp Redwood. The season did incorporate a few compelling mature characters, including Rita (Angelica Ross), the summer camp nurse. In reality, she was a psychologist named Donna Chambers that had an obsession with serial killers. She got involved in the massacre on Camp Redwood’s grounds and ended up saving Brooke Thompson after the young woman was pinned for the murders. The character ended up being integral to the plot based on her guilt surrounding the murders and her choices to clean up the mess she helped create. It would have been fun to see Bassett play the dynamic role as the season’s wild card. Seeing Bassett face-off with multiple serial killers would have also been a thrill for American Horror Story fans.

About The Author

Kara Hedash
(1744 Articles Published)

Kara Hedash is a features editor and writer for Screen Rant. From time to time, she dives into the world’s most popular franchises but Kara primarily focuses on evergreen topics. The fact that she gets to write about The Office regularly is like a dream come true. Before joining Screen Rant, Kara served as a contributor for Movie Pilot and had work published on The Mary Sue and Reel Honey. After graduating college, writing began as a part-time hobby for Kara but it quickly turned into a career. She loves binging a new series and watching movies ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to hidden indie gems. She also has a soft spot for horror ever since she started watching it at too young of an age. Her favorite Avenger is Thor and her favorite Disney princess is Leia Organa. When Kara’s not busy writing, you can find her doing yoga or hanging out with Gritty.

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