One of the hallmark elements of American Horror Story is its rotating cast of actors popping up in different roles throughout the show's nearly 10-season run. From season 1's Murder House to season 9's 1984, a slowly expanding group of core actors has been swapped in and out for each new season's cast of characters. Given this, one can't help but wonder how the show may have been different if characters were recast from different seasons. Here's what the Murder House cast would look like if swapped with the actors who starred in 1984.
American Horror Story's anthology-style of storytelling was introduced after its first season, nicknamed Murder House after its debut. Season 1 told the story of Vivien, Violet, and Ben Harmon as they moved into a house running rampant with ghosts. As medium Billie Dean Howard and their neighbors, Constance and Tate Langdon, come into their lives, they realize how truly evil their new home is and why those who die on the property never get to leave.
Murder House boasted a wildly talented cast. However, American Horror Story gained some other talented cast members as the show gained momentum over the years. Here's a look at what would happen if the newer series regulars from AHS: 1984 replaced the main cast of AHS: Murder House.
Lily Rabe as Vivien Harmon
Connie Britton played Vivien Harmon, wife to Ben and mother to Violet. There's both an inherent sadness and anger to Vivien and since her husband had recently cheated on her, who can blame her? Britton's performance as Vivien was memorable, and she never returned to play another character on the show to-date. If someone from the 1984 cast had to take another crack at the role, Lily Rabe could do it justice. Rabe only had a small part in Murder House, but went on to become a series regular and main cast member throughout the horror anthology series. Her characters, including Misty Day, Sister Mary Eunice, and 1984's Lavinia Richter are full of rage and/or a twinge of sadness. Rabe's experience with these types of characters would have translated nicely when it came to Vivien.
Matthew Morrison as Ben Harmon
Dylan McDermott played Ben Harmon, the troubled therapist who blew his family up with news of his affair. While he may hide it well, Ben has an inflated ego. One could say that's what led to his affair with a much younger woman. The best example of an inflated ego in the cast of characters from AHS: 1984 is Matthew Morrison's Trevor Kirchner. Just like Vivien, Ben also had a hint of sadness to him. Morrison demonstrated that through his character Will Schuester on Glee, which was his introduction to the world of Ryan Murphy. That bit of sadness is key to playing any member of the Harmon family well. The combination of characteristics in roles Morrison previously portrayed for Ryan Murphy would serve him well as Ben Harmon.
Billie Lourd as Violet Harmon
Taissa Farmiga played Ben and Vivien Harmon's teen daughter, Violet, in Murder House. Violet is a chronically unhappy girl, thanks to the effects that her parents' issues have on her and her inability to fit in at school. She's also cynical and sarcastic. Her burgeoning relationship with neighbor Tate Langdon can't lift her spirits, which eventually prompts her to take her own life — her death wasn't revealed until later in season 1 as a somewhat unexpected twist.
Billie Lourd didn't make her debut in American Horror Story until season 7's Cult, but she quickly proved that she easily fit in with the rest of the performers playing in the dark world that Ryan Murphy created. While her Apocalypse character was sweet and ethereal, Lourd's Cult and 1984 characters were anything but that. That dark energy could help Lourd channel the tortured soul of Violet Harmon.
Cody Fern as Tate Langdon
Tate (Evan Peters) and Violet were meant to be something of star-crossed lovers in American Horror Story: Murder House. Both were tortured and angsty teens. When Tate became a patient of Ben's, the two teens got to know one another. They slowly began to fall for one another. But their blossoming romanced became a doomed one when Tate remembered his past — specifically that he's been dead for years. He brought a gun to his high school years earlier and opened fire on his classmates. He used to live in the Harmons' home so when he was gunned down by the authorities, his soul became trapped there. The more Violet learned about his past, she began to despise him. But as much as it hurt, Tate promised he'd wait for Violet forever.
Cody Fern's role in AHS: Apocalypse is what would make him a perfect fit for Tate. In Murder House, Tate, in his ghostly form, impregnated Vivien. The union of spirit and human created something unholy. That unholy being grew up to be Fern's Michael Langdon. Fern exploded into the AHS universe with this role. He was the purest form of evil the show has seen to date. But Apocalypse proved that evil stemmed from the fact that he was just deeply sad and misunderstood. That role proved Fern would have the chops to play Tate.
Leslie Jordan as Constance Langdon
Jessica Lange, the former leading lady of AHS, played Constance Langdon — Tate's mother and the Harmons' next-door neighbor. The Harmons quickly learn that Constance knows more about the spirits of their home than she lets on. However, Constance isn't so keen to let go of her secrets easily. While the role was played by a woman, Leslie Jordan could easily slide into a gender-swapped version of Constance.
Lange got her start on the stage, and her time on AHS reflects that. Her performances were big and she commanded the screen whenever she was in front of the camera. Jordan has been something of a scene-stealer whenever he has appeared on the show as well. Jordan has brought a level of camp to every role on the show, which would be a fun boost for Constance.
Leslie Grossman as Billie Dean Howard
Sarah Paulson played medium Billie Dean Howard in AHS: Murder House. It's a small role, but proved to be of the utmost importance, as Sarah Paulson went on to take over Lange's position as Murphy's muse. Compared to other roles that Paulson has played on AHS, Billie Dean is quite demure. That would be something of a change for Leslie Grossman, who joined the series in season 7, Cult. Similar to Jordan's appearances on American Horror Story, Grossman tends to bring a high level of camp to her performances. This would be an interesting twist on the Billie Dean Howard that fans have come to know over the course of American Horror Story, as she has appeared on the show more than once.