In February 2020, Ryan Murphy announced the cast for American Horror Story: Double Feature, But some changes happened when it was time for filming. The line-up included well-loved veterans of the show such as Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Finn Wittrock, and Kathy Bates. However, due to the impact of COVID-19 and lockdown procedures, the season premiered until August 2021. Despite the long list of popular returning actors in the season, there was one actor who was noticeably absent from the season, Kathy Bates .
It soon became clear that the role Kathy Bates was originally supposed to play was taken over by AHS veteran Frances Conroy. All we were told about Bates’ character was that she would share a crazy, intimate scene with Macaulay Culkin’s character, Mickey. Once I saw that scene acted out with Frances Conroy, it was clear that she had taken over the character. Although I missed seeing Kathy Bates back on screen in the American Horror Story universe, I was glad the role of Belle Noir was given to Frances Conroy Instead.
Kathy Bates was originally supposed to play Belle Noir in American Horror Story: Red Tide
Kathy Bates has not been seen on the show since the show’s eighth season
One of the most interesting characters in American Horror Story: Red Tide was Bel Noir. She was a successful romance novel writer who feeds on people’s blood. The character was originally supposed to be played by Kathy Bates, but due to delays and the show’s filming being postponed due to COVID, The role was recast and given to Frances Conroy instead. It was rumored that Kathy Bates had pulled out of the project due to other commitments and personal issues, but the rumors were never confirmed.
Kathy Bates is not seen in American Horror Story Since the eighth season of the show. I was originally really looking forward to seeing her return to the show as Belle Noir. However, since the character was recast, Bates has yet to appear in another season of the show. Unfortunately, with the recent talk of Kathy Bates’ retirement from acting, it seems unlikely that we will see her appear on the show again. That said, Ryan Murphy was able to bring Jessica Lange back from her retirement from the show.
Belle Noir brilliantly picked up Frances Conroy and departed from her past AHS characters
This role made me see Frances Conroy in a different light
Although I was disappointed that Kathy Bates pulled out of American Horror Story: Double FeatureI was thrilled that Frances Conroy was the one to take over the role. I will always be curious as to what the role would have been like had Kathy Bates played the character, but Conroy played the part perfectly. I hated the character and loved her at the same time. She was strange and dangerous, exactly How a good villain should be. Conroy also made the audience feel sorry for the character in her flashback episode.
|
Belle Noir’s appearances in American Horror Story |
|
|---|---|
|
Episode title |
time x number |
|
“head fear” |
10×01 |
|
“pale” |
10×02 |
|
“thirst” |
10×03 |
|
“Blood Buffet” |
10×04 |
|
“streetlight” |
10×05 |
|
“Winter Kills” |
10×06 |
In the past, Frances Conroy’s other roles on the show, such as Moira O’Hara or Myrtle Snow, were very soft-spoken, good-natured characters. They are caring and always do the right thing. Even her slightly darker role, like Shachath or Gloria Mott, were not evil, they both just seemed to take a back seat to the drama and Gloria just enabled the dark functions in her season.
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She was not bad herself. I was impressed by Conroy’s appearance in Red Tide because she stepped out of her comfort zone And played one of the creepiest, scariest humans on the show. That was something I hadn’t seen from Frances Conroy on the show before.
Kathy Bates’ AHS Season 8 character is already very similar to Belle Noir
Ms Mead’s aesthetic was very similar to Belle Noir
If Kathy Bates played Belle Noir, it might be very similar to her portrayal of Ms. Mead in Apocalypse. Ms. Mead was an evil worshiper of Satan who would help the anti-Christ and make human sacrifices. Belle Noir also has a dark secret as she can only live on the blood of humans. She also saw it as a sacrifice and would only drink the blood of terrible people in order to rid the world of the people who deserved it.
[…] It would have been too similar to Ms Mead, and it would have taken away from the originality of the character.
Even Belle’s makeup and jewelry were very similar to Ms. Mead’s in season 8. It’s because of this that I’m glad Kathy Bates didn’t play the role of Belle Noir in American Horror Story: Double Feature. If she had played the role, it would have been too similar to Ms. Mead, and it would have taken away the originality of the character and Kathy Bates’ acting talent. At the same time, Frances Conroy got a chance to shine and break out of the safe character roles she played earlier in the show.