In February 2020 , Ryan Murphy announce the cast forAmerican Horror Story : Double lineament , but some changes materialise when it was time for film . The line - up included well - lovedveterans 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 time of year did n’t premier until August 2021 . Despite the recollective list of popular returning player in the season , there was one player who was perceptibly wanting from the time of year , Kathy Bates .

It soon became clear that the role Kathy Bates was in the beginning imagine to spiel had beentaken over by AHS warhorse Frances Conroy . All we were told about Bates ' character was that she would divvy up a crazed , intimate scenery with Macaulay Culkin ’s case , Mickey . Once I saw that scene behave out with Frances Conroy , it was made clear that she had taken over the character . Although I missed seeing Kathy Bates back on screen in theAmerican Horror Storyuniverse , I was glad the role of Belle Noir was given to Frances Conroyinstead .

Kathy Bates Was Originally Supposed To Play Belle Noir In American Horror Story: Red Tide

Kathy Bates Hasn’t Been Seen On The Show Since The Show’s Eighth Season

One of the most interesting fictitious character inAmerican Horror Story : Red Tide was Belle Noir . She was a successful love affair novel writer who fed off people ’s blood . The character wasoriginally supposed to be play by Kathy Bates , but because of delays and the filming of the show being remit due to COVID , the part was recast and hand to Frances Conroy instead . It was rumored that Kathy Bates had pull out of the undertaking due to other commitments and personal issues , but these rumors were never confirm .

Belle Noir was the only case to appear in all six episodes ofAmerican Horror Story : Red Tide .

Kathy Bates has not been witness inAmerican Horror Storysince the show ’s eighth time of year . I was originally really looking forward to seeing her return to the show as Belle Noir . However , since the type was reforge , Bates has yet to appear in another time of year of the show . Unfortunately , with recent talk ofKathy Bates ' retreat from acting , it seems improbable we ’ll see her come out in the show again . That said , Ryan Murphy was able-bodied to bring Jessica Lange out of her retirement from the show .

Ms Mead in American Horror Story Apocalypse

Belle Noir Brilliantly Uplifted Frances Conroy & Departed From Her Past AHS Characters

The Role Made Me See Frances Conroy In A Different Light

Although I was disappointed that Kathy Bates tear out ofAmerican Horror Story : Double feature film , I was thrilled that Frances Conroy was the one taking over the purpose . I will always be curious about what the role would have been like if Kathy Bates were to have played the character , but Conroy play the role utterly . I hated the character and loved her at the same time . She was comic and dangerous , justas a good baddie should be . Conroy also made the interview feel dreary for the character in her flashback episode .

Belle Noir ’s Appearances InAmerican Horror Story

Episode Title

Emma Robert’s Anna stands in front of two clawed hands in American Horror Story Delicate

American Horror Story is a Horror Anthology series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The franchise has seen stars like Connie Britton, Jessica Lange, Denis O’Hare, Zachary Quinto, Evan Peters, and Dylan McDermott. Each season follows a new premise and spans an array of horror genres like witches, ghosts, serial killers, and more.

Season x Number

" Cape Fear "

10x01

Frances Conroy as Belle Noir

" pallid "

10x02

" Thirst "

American Horror Story Season 12 Poster

American Horror Story is a Horror Anthology series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The franchise has seen stars like Connie Britton, Jessica Lange, Denis O’Hare, Zachary Quinto, Evan Peters, and Dylan McDermott. Each season follows a new premise and spans an array of horror genres like witches, ghosts, serial killers, and more.

10x03

" ancestry Buffet "

10x04

Headshot Of Denis O’Hare

" Gaslight "

10x05

" Winter Kills "

Headshot Of Emma Roberts In The NY Premiere of Space Cadet

10x06

In the past , Frances Conroy ’s other roles on the show , such as Moira O’Hara or Myrtle Snow , were very cushy - spoken , kind - natured characters . They were caring and always did the right-hand thing . Even her more or less darker roles , like Shachath or Gloria Mott , were not evil , they both just seemed to take a backseat from the drama and Gloria just turn on the dark happening in her time of year .

American Horror Story : Delicate ’s series finale explained how Ivy , Dex , Siobhan , and Anna ’s story connect , but the episode left a portion unexplained .

American Horror Story

She was n’t evil herself . I was affect by Conroy ’s appearance in Red Tide because she stepped out of her consolation zoneand played one of the creepiest , shuddery humans on the show . This was something I had n’t seen from Frances Conroy on the show before .

Kathy Bates’ AHS Season 8 Character Was Already Very Similar To Belle Noir

Ms Mead’s Aesthetic Was Very Similar To Belle Noir

If Kathy Bates did play Belle Noir , it may have been very interchangeable to her portraiture of Ms Mead in Apocalypse . Ms Mead was an evil worshiper of Satan who would aid the anti - Christ and make human sacrifices . Belle Noir also had a dark enigma as she could only survive on the blood of humans . She also saw it as a forfeit and would only drink the blood of dire hoi polloi to rid the earth of the citizenry who " deserved " it .

[ … ] it would have been too alike to Ms Mead , and it would have taken away from the originality of the character .

Even Belle ’s make - up and jewellery were very similar to Ms Mead ’s in season 8 . It ’s because of this that I ’m happy Kathy Bates did n’t play the role of Belle Noir inAmerican Horror Story : bivalent characteristic . If she had played the role , it would have been too similar to Ms Mead , and it would have take out from the originality of the eccentric and Kathy Bates ' acting endowment . At the same time , Frances Conroy got a chance to shine and break out of the safe fiber function she play earlier in the show .

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American Horror Story is a Horror Anthology series create by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk . The dealership has go through virtuoso like Connie Britton , Jessica Lange , Denis O’Hare , Zachary Quinto , Evan Peters , and Dylan McDermott . Each season follows a fresh premise and spans an regalia of horror genre like beldame , ghost , serial sea wolf , and more .