UPDATED: Whoa… Robert Downey Jr. as the Vampire Lestat?
This could be a lot of fun
UPDATED: A member of ONTD contacted Anne Rice via her openly available email address regarding the following story and got this in reply:
Stacy, I cannot confirm this story. The negotiations are entirely in the hands of my agents. I know they are always working on setting up my books with good motion picture prospects. But I do not have anything specific to say on the matter right now. I am optimistic that we will see good movies in the future based on the Vampire Chronicles. When I do have news to report, I will post it on my website. I thank you for your interest. I can certainly confirm that the film of Queen of the Damned was a terrible disappointment to me and to many of the readers. Thank you for your letter. Anne Rice.
Perhaps I should wise up and do the same kind of reporting… Lesson learned. Earlier report follows:
Anne Rice's "Vampire Chronicles" have seen a couple of bigscreen incarnations. The first was Neil Jordan's Interview with the Vampire which starred Brad Pitt as Louis and Tom Cruise as the immortal vampire Lestat de Lioncourt. Eight years later Stuart Townsend starred in Queen of the Damned alongside the late R&B singer Aaliyah as Queen Akasha. Interview with the Vampire made $223 million worldwide and opened with a mixed critical reaction, but for the most part positive. Queen of the Damned, however, was the nail in the vampire's coffin scoring 14% at RottenTomatoes and taking in only $45 million worldwide on a $35 million budget… The nail… that is… until now?
A new rumor has just risen from the dead over at Bloody-Disgusting and to say it is intriguing is an understatement. With the current rise in vampire features, the continually rising star that is Robert Downey Jr. and the wealth of stories that come from Rice's stories is it at all surprising Universal Pictures is looking to restart Anne Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles" with Downey in close talks to plat the vampire Lestat? That's the word from Bloody-Disgusting's source and they say the "talks" are confirmed.
As BD points out, Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles" are a series of novels that revolve around the fictional character Lestat de Lioncourt, a French nobleman made into a vampire in the 18th century. I have read three of the novels and enjoyed all three immensely and would love to see another take on the series and Downey sounds just as good as anyone… I guess. Perhaps in keeping with the Sherlock Holmes theme maybe Mark Strong as Armand, a role I felt Antonio Banderas played to perfection in 1994.
Who knows? I'm intrigued and hope there is even more news around the corner.
What do you think? Can you see Downey as Lestat? Do you wish they had continued with Cruise?
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I know somebody that must be very excited to hear this, what with the news of a vampire RDJ?
He's having quite the career, isn't he, Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes and Lestat? Wow!
Oh, my… I hope it's just another stupid rumor. Robert Downey jr. is too good to be in such a piece of crap as "Queen of the Damned" was, and I doubt they're going to make another "Interwiew with the vampire", so please, say it isn't so…
@Wurtzel:
there are other Lestat novels, you know.
RDJ was also too good to be Tony Stark yet he's a perfect Tony Stark. It's because he's such a good actor that he should take this role. Favreau really resurrected and a great career, here.
This is ridiculous. First Stuart Townsend killed Lestat in that horrible horrible excuse of a movie "Queen of the Damned", which is probably one of the worst vampire movies ever made (perhaps even worse then the sparkling vampire movie Twilight), and now Robert Downey Jr?!?!?!?!
Tom Cruise was the best lestat. He fit it perfectly, not only looks wise (for lestat has blonde hair and gray eyes, unlike the stuart townsend version which had brown hair and brown eyes), but the whole peppy and flamboyant personality! He was PERFECT. If anyone should play Lestat again, it should be Tom Cruise. Just saying. Anyone else will kill Lestat's good name.
If this were to happen, wellll….lets say i will not be a very happy camper. In fact, I wont let this happen! Lestat means too much to me and I wont let Robert Downey Jr. ruin his good name and reputation!
Thanks for reading.
-Theresa Colella.
@Theresa Colella:
wait… you're saying Tom Cruise is better than Downey Jr.?
and we can make Downey Jr. look like Lestat with a brilliant thing called make-up… hell he's played a black dude! I'm sure a wig can suffice your vital needs of looking good.. and he's a great actor so give him a chance to play Lestat (and we all know he'll play it better than Stuart Townsend eh?)
and Downey Jr. is the ultimate come-back kid! had some great films -Natural Born Killers- before his "episode" then comes back and takes over Hollywood again… he's a bloody hero…
@Deev:
perhaps. but he doesnt have the flamboyant, lestat personality. hes too serious in all of his movies. hes a very serious type of guy. i fear that he, like Stuart Townsend, might ruin Lestat. And yes, I do like Tom Cruise better then Downey Jr. Sure, Downey Jr. is a good actor, but i just dont think its a right fit.
I just wish that Tom Cruise would play Lestat again….they were the perfect fit. :(
It's clear you are not very familiar with his filmography. It is true he has been serious in films but he has often been funny and eccentric as well. I have no doubt he could do justice to Lestat giving the character far more depth and complexity than Cruise. Cruise did a phenomenal job of playing Lestat in Interview With A Vampire because really it wasn't a stretch. Louis's view of Lestat is that he is a pompous jerk who thinks the whole world revolves around him. Playing yourself isn't very difficult. Playing Lestat as he is presented in The Vampire Lestat will take far more acting chops. I have complete faith in RDJ bringing Lestat to life in all his complexities.
@Theresa Colella: RDJ is too serious? I mean, really? To me, at least, Robert Downey Jr is flippancy personified. In a good way.
should be good
Tom Cruise is what sucked about IWAV! NO MORE TOME CRUISE!
If they do this, I really hope this won't just be Interview With The Vampire (2011 version, whenever it's released). They should leave the first one alone, and try a hand at "The Vampire Lestat," (Queen Of THe Damned took little from it, mostly from Queen Of The Damned, the third) or "Tale Of The Body Thief." The fourth would be the best one to try, as it is different from usual and would definitely work.
Say no to Reboots. What comes out of it is either a dumb title, or a total trashing to the original (Friday The 13th 2009 anyone?) or the whole series. Just make it a sequel or a stand-alone, like "Rambo" and "Rocky Balboa," "Live Free or Die Hard," or "Indiana Jones And THe Kingdom Of Crystal Skull".
Yeah, Robert being "too serious" for a role is kind of funny, isn't it? He has proven himself in serious drama, light-hearted comedy, riveting action… actually in every genre as long as it requires quick wit, effortless charm and intelligence! I think Robert has proven time and again that he can excel at anything he puts his huge talent and heart to, even if it's an over-used subject like vampires. I say go Robert!
(OOPS. I think this is what RDJ meant when he mentioned getting a kick out of fans "over-stating their support"… :) Oh well, it's all true anyway.)
@Theresa Colella: RDJ doesn't have a flamboyant personality?!?
this sucks.. I like Downey Jr but Tom Cruise IS Lestat, he was perfect
Hmm. Let's hope for NOT re-making Interview with a Vampire. When it first came out, I had serious doubts about Tom Cruise as well. I mean, come one, the ACTION STAR of Days of Thunder and Top Gun was NOT the dude to play evil for fun Lestat! But then he did, and he was AWESOME. So no. Let's not remake Interview.
However, I'd LOVE to see RDJ as Lestat in something like Tale of the Body Thief. THAT was a terrific story. And I could see RDJ playing that incarnation of Lestat. the wonder he experiences walking in the day light, eating, DRINKING ORANGE JUICE, after centuries of being a 'creature of the night'? Yes, RDJ could take that aspect of Lestat and OWN HIM. I say, big fat noes to the remake of Interview, but a huge HECK YEAH to something like Tale of the Body Thief.
Yes, I love Anne Rice, even she can admit that "Queen of the Damned" sucked hard (pun not intended).
I would definitely love to see Robert Downey Jr. as Lestat, but I agree with Chelle that it shouldn't be a remake of Interview with a Vampire. That film is excellent on its own, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But another one of Rice's tales with Tony Stark in the main role…I'm up for it.
Tom Cruise the wordt Lestat possible.
I remember the absolute beginning or RDJs career back in the 80s, have seen almost every film he's ever made, even the artsy ones, and I have never once seen him fail in a role. He's brilliant.
I hope the rumor is true because RDJ could lift the role of Lestat up out of mediocrity.
I'm a fan of the Vampires chronicles. I discovered them a long time ago when the "Vampire Lestat" was published.
I was very disappointed when they made a film of “Interview with a vampire”, because this book was not really about Lestat but it was the vision Louis had of Lestat. And as Louis is a depressive person and very jealous of Lestat. That’s why I didn’t agree with their choice.
I also didn’t really like Tom Cruise in the role (not that is was not good), but he just didn’t fit in the idea I had of Lestat.
I’m also a very big fan of Robert Downey Jr. I really like his job and the way he plays.
I don’t know if he will be able to be “my Lestat” (he’s a kind old for the role, Lestat was in his late twenties when he was turned, but at the time you died at fifty… so why not) , but as he has a huge talent, I’m sure he can do an amazing work one that one.
As a mater of fact, I would love that if a perform as a rock star and does the singing himself because I also love him as a singer.
So let’s give him a chance…
Tom Cruise… Old News.
Robert DJ… New News.
Robert DJ will perform effortlessly as Lestat. What if Heath Ledger never died. Do you think he would have played Lestat?.
Robert DJ has my vote in portraying Lestat.
Comparing Robert Downey Jr playing in an ADULT Vampire Movie to teenage agnast vampire fluff is rediculous.
A real Vampire Lestate film deserves serious writing and with Robert Downey Jr. who has eyes that can melt a grandmother.
The character is perfect for him, his spontanious, goes against the laws of the Vampire nation he would be princely,
brave and sexy to boot. I support Robert if he decides on this, his got it and it's about time the Vampire comes to a level
of respect, after all it's about immortality. Robbie
Well i personaly think think that stuart acted a good lestat , not in the looks but in the way it talked and made lestat look like in the book , mysterious and stuf, on the other side Tom made lestat look as the evil mastermind like he was depicted in IWAV, I dont realy want Robert Downey to play lestat but hey if hes gona do a good job i wont mind, they could also use the guy that acted Rod in Vampire Clan. And yes Queen of the damned was a shity movie, the soundtrack was one of the very few things i liked about it
@Arthur: Wow, it's nice to see someone else preferred Stuart Townsend as Lestat! I thought Tom Cruise was horrible and while I loved the movie Queen of the Damned, I admit it's partially because it IS so cheesy. I agree about Banderas being a great Armand, and yes, Heath Ledger would have made a great Lestat too. But I have a hard time imagining RDJ as Lestat. Maybe I'll be surprised.
The rumor is that this new movie will be based on the book "Lestat" which is a prequel to "Interview"..I liked Tom Cruise in the first one but I agree that he's a little too old to portray him now. Besides, he played Loius' vision of Lestat. The rest of the books paint a character almost impossible to hate. I'm a little wary about RDJ playing the role. Don't get me wrong, Downey one of my all-time favorite actors & if anyone could do it right, it’s him. That being said, I get flashes of the end of Tropic Thunder when I think about him with a blonde wig. *Shudder* (My point being that a great name does not make a great movie.) I would like to see a younger, maybe unknown, actor. This movie has potential, if they do it right & I look forward to hearing more..
@
Theresa Colella: Don't you think that Tom
is a little long in the tooth now. I never thought he had the stature or features
to be a good Lestat, even Anne Rice wasn't happy. I think that Michael Fassbender
would be a good choice. He is a British actor and was so good in the BBC series
"HEX" and Leonidas right hand in "300". And of course he is not such a big star.
He is tall and elegant, extremely handsome, as I would imagine Lestat according
to the novel . I'm such a purist anyway.
Frankly I don't care if he plays Lestat, I would like him to play a great Vampire Story, it doesn't have to be a franchise either.
Just one fantastic movie.
@Robbie: People are concerned Robert might be to old, for goodness sake the
vampire is usually 300 years old and besides white make up does wonders.. people said that about Iron Man when Robert
signed up..the personality of the Vampire is definately Downey, besides a dark comedy might go well with some decent
fangs to boot…has anyone seen those pathetic fangs in True Blood? they think frowning might get me scared, sorry about that it's Downey's EYES and the seduction of blood that would make one scared and in extasy at the same time.
Oh yea..it's personality, eyes, and a rebellious Vampire. Sharon I'm a Vampire Lestat purist, I was blown away when Tom C.
was Lestat, if Brad Pitt who was blonde became Lestat he could have made a fortune. Tom was "alright" but not the Lestat
I knew. I could live with a black hair Lestat though…except to say I want Downey to play a Vampire :)
i wish they will continue with Tom Cruise,he's Lestat for me
@Deev: You are totally right. Downey is awesome, and I am a huge fan of BOTH Lestat and RDJ. The problem is, that Downey's manager/spokesmat/or what said that RDJ probably won't be playing Lestat, because he lacks a free time in his schedule.
@Sonia: Tom Cruise won't be playing Lestat anymore, he said that it's time to pass playing of this character to somebody else/younger. I guess he said this, it was written somewhere.
@Robbie: My words, matey. My words. Let the shooting begin! But it must be done ONLY with a good script. A good script is a NECESSITY.
@HILDA: No way, he was awesome!
@Jenn: That's right. I remembered Downey in that blonde wig, too (I mean the wig he had in Tropic thunder, for those who read my comment), and he looked ghastly. Simply horrible. And I mean it. So, his age and his "blond looking" vampire appearance are the only things I am afraid of. But he is awesome actor, one of the best in the whole century, I guess. So I know he would portray Lestat well. I am just concerned about his looks, as I said-he is only charismatic with his OWN dark brown eyes and hair.
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I am surprised to see so much negativity about Stuart Townsend's acting skills in 'Queen of the Damned'! I personally loved the movie. I also enjoyed 'Interview with the Vampire', but Tom Cruise just doesn't do it for me. I would love to see Stuart Townsend as lestat again, but I am guessing that's not going to happen. Rober Downey Jr. you say? I think he would be pretty good as Lestat because he's simply an amazing actor. Uhm… he would need a lot of make- up though!
@Arthur:
I agree the sound track was great! unfortunately Townsend couldn't act, he looked good..
the whole dam movie was dreadful and such an insult to Anne Rice..
I don't care if Downey plays in a Rice novel, I'd like him to play a Vampire period.
these day's his doing so much comedy and super hero stuff they can't see him as
as a bad guy Vampire. Maybe having been through such bad press and people hating
him when he went to prison he might be playing it safe being a super hero.
I'm sure he can't forget that, people were so hateful.
i kind of see robert downy jr as lestat but i always pictured jonathan ryes myers(i hope thats how you spell his name!bad at spelling!) as lestat and i really hope they don't get brad pitt and antonio banderas as vampires! they were horrible! kirsten dunst made the movie good!
I have read most of the entire series of The Vampire Chronicles and the only REAL problem I have with IWAV was the ending! As any fan of the books can tell you Lestat was not that afraid of the helicopters and such (having deduced what they were while in the ground) and had no fear of Louis at all….having said that RDJ has the acting chops but I don't see him as Lestat at all. For those that loved Queen of the Damned…..You obviously NEVER read the book…..Lestat told Louis the truth he NEVER knew his maker. I think Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise should have switched roles to make it more fitting, but as for RDJ? I love his acting but not the right choice for this role at all….oh and TVL was in no way shape or form a dark comedy….Anne Rice's books may contain humor but they are very serious in nature. RDJ is just too old even with the make-up they would still need some CGI, especially since Lestat is supposed to have been what?….20?….when made a vampire. Plus let's keep in mind he was FRENCH and came from aristocracy.
I myself hope they find someone better to play Lestat. Is it really that hard to find someone new?
well,i don't think RDJ will play lestat good.i prefer Tom Cruise, he really good in Interview With The Vampire. Queen of the Damned is a crap, but QOTD is the movie that introduce me to Lestat.if i never watch QOTD than maybe i'd never know The Vampire Chronicles,or Anne Rice
If you want a young, flamboyant, mesmerizing, tall, beautiful, brash vampire with that rock star vibe in an actor who can also sing, the obvious choice is Adam Lambert. Before you write him off check out on YouTube the official music video version of FYE ("For Your Entertainment") and you'll know exactly what I mean. Downey, a fine actor, could never pull off sexy the way Adam does on say, his Grand Rapids performance of WLL ("Whole Lotta Love"). This guy's electrifying!
Adam Lambert is the worst idea I have ever heard!!
That would be a dream come true! As for Cruise I always thought he was horribley miscast, did a better job than I had expected but wasn't the right type for Lestat…personality wise RDJ would be perfect!
Its not going to be a remake of Interview with the Vampire. Its going to be based off the novel, "The Vampire Lestat." They are two totally different stories. But I do agree that Robert isnt going to make the best Lestat, however I still love the book.
maybe ben barnes with a blond wig and contacts. He's a pretty good actor and he is quite young.
Stuart Townsend is Lestat, period. Don't bother making another of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles if Stuart Townsend isn't casted as Lestat.
There is only one Lestat
MARTIN ROLINSKI. Even Cruise would suck compared to him. Martin is blond blue gray eyed and BEAUTIFUL. He is a singer who has a great stage presence and could pull off LeStat's arrogance and vanity. If they cast RDJ this is gonna flop badly.
I don't think you guys should be bagging out Tom Cruise so much. He did an amazing job of playing Lestat!
I believe they should try and get Tom Cruise back because then the money will be rolling in a hell of a lot more than having some anonymous person playing the character.
Instead of doing The Tale Of The Body Thief, they should be making The Vampire Lestat into a movie. It's a lot more interesting, absorbing and entertaining than Body Thief. It gives a background into Lestat's past – his human life, his introduction into vampire life – all the insights about his character and why he is that way.
I say that Martin Rolinski would make a better Lestat than Robert Downing Jr. And looking online, I see I'm not the only one that thinks so.