Jessica Lange has only played four characters in American Horror Story, but there are plenty of roles she could have filled if she appeared in more seasons. The legendary actress starred in the horror anthology's debut season, which aired in 2011. Series creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk were so ecstatic with her performance that she returned for the follow-up installment in a prominent role. Lange quickly became one of the show's go-to actresses, and in the process, she received two Emmys, in addition to other prestigious awards. Following season 4, Lange took a break from American Horror Story despite her on-going collaborations with Murphy.
When Lange made her series debut, she played Constance Langdon, the neighbor of the newly-relocated Harmon family. Despite her tragic demise, Constance reappeared in season 8's Apocalypse, which stands as Lange's most recent work in American Horror Story. Aside from Constance, the actress has portrayed three other memorable characters, including Sister Jude Martin in Asylum, Fiona Goode in Coven, and Elsa Mars in Freak Show. Despite only appearing in four roles, Lange's carries one of the biggest legacies in the horror series.
As of now, there are no indications that Lange will appear in future seasons of American Horror Story or the upcoming spinoff, American Horror Stories. While Lange decided to retire from the anthology ahead of season 5, Murphy did manage to convince her to return once before. It's very well possible that Lange will make one last appearance before the show concludes sometime in the future. Whether that remains up in the air, it's difficult not to look back at more recent seasons to analyze which characters Lange could have played. This isn't a knock at the actors who received the roles, but instead, a compilation of figures that Lange was a fit for, had she continued on with the anthology.
American Horror Story: Hotel marked the first season that didn't feature Lange in any capacity. Though the season included a handful of regular cast members, Lange's absence left a void based on her scene-stealing powers. With the actress' exit, Kathy Bates seemingly got a bump to a leading role by playing Iris, the manager of the Hotel Cortez and the grief-stricken mother of Donovan. Had Lange decided to continue working on the series, the role of Iris may have easily been hers. While Bates did spectacular work with this emotional part, Lange could have certainly played the complicated woman stuck by the horrors within the haunted hotel. In a more limited capacity, it would have also been exciting for Lange to return to play one of the well-known serial killers in the "Devil's Night" episode.
Lange already portrayed one Supreme in American Horror Story: Coven, so why couldn't she play another version of the immortal witch? Season 6's Roanoke presented two sets of characters due to a reenactment embedded into the storyline. While Lady Gaga guest-starred as the reenactment version of Scáthach, the original Supreme, it would have been special for a series veteran like Lange to play a figure with such historical relevance. The fact that Lange already portrayed a Supreme in Coven, the guest role would have been even more significant. By season 6, Lange made it clear that she wanted a break from the horror anthology series, but it's possible she would have been game for a brief appearance as Scáthach.
As was the case with other seasons of American Horror Story, Cult lacked a variety of mature characters in Lange's age range. There was, however, Bebe Babbitt, a compelling character played by Frances Conroy. Conroy showcased a strong performance, but it would have been easy to see why Lange also could have been a good fit for the part. The actress certainly has experience working alongside Evan Peters, giving the two a chance to build a complicated dynamic between Bebe and Kai Anderson. When the former member of SCUM realized that Kai failed to use political power to unleash female rage, it was too late for her. Instead of trying to lead on her own, Bebe put too much hope into Kai, resulting in her own downfall. Though the arc was brief, it would have been a fun guest role for Lange.
Lange made her much-anticipated return in American Horror Story season 8 after a four-year absence in the series. Rather than play a brand-new character, Lange reprised her season 1 role of Constance. When Madison Montgomery and Behold Chablis purchase the Murder House, they summoned the spirits on the property, including the ghost of Constance. The character then unveiled the truth about her grandson, Michael Langdon, who went on to become the Antichrist. Aside from returning as Constance, it would have been a treat for fans to feature Lange in a more prominent role after a long hiatus from the series.
Seeing as Sarah Paulson was already playing two other characters in season 8, it would have been interesting to see someone like Lange play Wilhemina Venable, the strict leader of Outpost 3. Not only would she have fit the stern force to be reckoned with, but it would have given Lange the opportunity to primarily work alongside Kathy Bates once again. As was proven by Coven, the two actors working opposite each other is always a treat.
There weren't many characters in American Horror Story season 9 that would have fit Lange's pattern of portraying powerful matriarchs. While much of the focus was spent on the young twenty-something camp counselors, the actress could have played a Camp Redwood employee like Chef Bertie, but Murphy would have likely given the veteran actress something a bit more respectable. That said, it's possible to envision Lange in the role of Dr. Karen Hopple for 1984. The Chief of Psychology at Red Meadows Asylum was played by Orla Brady in season 9, appearing in a total of four episodes. The experienced psychologist studied inmates like Benjamin Richter, aka Mr. Jingles.
After the serial killer's escape, Dr. Hopple traveled to Camp Redwood to warn of his intentions. The character was later killed by Mr. Jingles, but it would have been thrilling to see Lange go toe-to-toe with a serial killer; her inclusion might have even given room to expand this minor role if she'd wanted something a bit more substantial to sink her teeth into.
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