Robert Downey Jr. Is In Talks To Be The Next Vampire Lestat
After Neil Jordan’s intense and vividInterview With the Vampireand Michael Rymer’s deathly dullQueen of the Damned, and in step with the currentTwilight-fuelled vampmania, it looks that Universal is looking to reboot the cinematic incarnation ofAnne Rice’sThe Vampire Chronicles. The first book in the series wasInterview, and I’d imagine a purist-pleasing reboot would start there, though I don’t really expect that to be the case here. Even thoughInterviewandQueenwere Warner Bros. films, they’re still fresh in the memory and frequent enough on cable that they’re also far from being forgotten. I don’t think Universal will trysomething so daft as fully rebooting a series that’s still alive in the mind of the public.
Bloody Disgustinghave slaved away to validate the story thatRobert Downey Jr. is in talks to take the lead role of Lestat, previously played by Tom Cruise and Stuart Townsend. This afternoon, they say, they have succeeded and the rumour is confirmed… so no longer a rumour, then. That’s yet another potential franchise for Downey, after theIron Man,Satan’s AlleyandSherlock Holmesseries. Do we love him that much? Can we stomach this much Downey dangling from our tent poles? If he keeps doing good work, then I say most definitely so.
On July 10th this year, Anne Rice published the following statement onher official site:
We will see high quality films based on the adventures of Lestat and his friends in the future. We will see a fine film some day ofRamses the Damned.The Mayfair Witcheswill have new life in film. TheChrist the Lordbooks will some day make it to the screen.Angel Time, and the future adventures of Toby O’Dare, will make it to television or film. When I have solid news of a new film based on any of my works, I will post it on this website.
So far, she’s still a little behindBloody Disgustingbut I hope she’ll give us an update soon, maybe clarifying just what Lestat story we can look forward to seeing.
