In an alternate reality, the haunting hallways of American Horror Story’s second season, Asylum, might have been graced by the presence of Margot Robbie, but fate had other plans. Casting director Eric Dawson, a longstanding collaborator with AHS creator Ryan Murphy, unveiled the nearly-unknown story during a candid conversation on Backstage’s In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast.
Reflecting on the audition that could have changed the trajectory of Robbie’s career, Dawson emphasized the enigmatic quality the actress brought into the room. “Margot embodied an array of ‘it’ factors, a potent concoction of charisma and raw talent,” Dawson mused, his words hinting at the bewitching aura Robbie exuded during her audition. It was a moment poised on the precipice of fame, poised to propel Robbie into the chilling world of American Horror Story.
Dawson’s eyes still shimmer with the memory, as he recounted, “One can scarcely forget that audition. It was a juncture just before her meteoric rise, a crossroads where she stood poised to enter the realm of the macabre.” However, as the universe would have it, Robbie’s destiny led her towards another breakout role — the magnetic allure of 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street.
“Her luminosity was unparalleled, her presence, intoxicating,” Dawson confessed. The vivid recollections were a testament to the ethereal magnetism that Robbie could summon at will, even then. The room bore witness to an incipient stardom that would eventually burst forth like a supernova. But the stars do not always align in favor of a single project.
The decision not to cast Robbie was a choice that Dawson didn’t expound upon, leaving us in the dark about the intricate tapestry of considerations that underpin the casting process. Yet, in that lacuna of explanation, one can glimpse the intricate dance between casting directors’ visions and an actor’s destined path.
Dawson hinted at this intricate dynamic, stating, “Casting is an exhilarating playground of possibilities. It’s the domain where destinies intersect, diverge, and coalesce.” While he remained tight-lipped about the specifics of Robbie’s near-participation, his words revealed the tantalizing enigma of those moments behind the casting curtain.
As we delve into the abyss of speculation, one wonders which character from the chilling Asylum season Robbie might have brought to life. A season heralded as a fan favorite, Asylum boasted a constellation of stars: Zachary Quinto, Joseph Fiennes, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, and many more. Could Robbie have been one of those starlit names, etched forever into the annals of horror television? We’re left to imagine the myriad alternate realities that might have been.
With the franchise gearing up for its 12th installment, Delicate, set to debut on September 20, the recollection of Robbie’s untaken path resounds with a symphony of “what ifs.” The American Horror Story series has undeniably been a launchpad, a hallowed ground where burgeoning careers are redefined or entirely reborn.
Notable among these transformative journeys was Lady Gaga’s foray into the realm of acting, a move that garnered her a Golden Globe for her spellbinding performance in American Horror Story: Hotel. This series has ceaselessly demonstrated its knack for weaving the obscure into the extraordinary, rendering it a realm where stars are both made and showcased.
As we stand on the cusp of a new season, the tale of Margot Robbie’s near miss serves as a stark reminder that in the intricate mosaic of showbiz, each casting choice reverberates across time. Who we see on screen is merely the tip of the iceberg — a result of choices that carve out destinies, both fulfilled and forsaken.
In the grand tapestry of Hollywood, Margot Robbie’s name is now intrinsically linked with her meteoric successes. But in a parallel universe, her name could have been synonymous with the eerie, the enigmatic, and the extraordinary. The haunting specter of “what could have been” lends an extra layer of intrigue to her journey — a journey that continues to unfold across screens and seasons.
So, as Delicate approaches with its promise of new nightmares and chilling twists, spare a thought for the road not taken. The road that almost led Margot Robbie into the darkness of the Asylum, and the road that diverged to etch her name among the stars of an entirely different constellation.