Anne Rice wants Robert Downey Jr in Interview remake
Novelist Anne Rice has spoken about the possibility of a remake of the 1994 Interview with the Vampire which was an adaptation of her novel, of the same name, the first in the Vampire Chronicles series. Rice has tipped Richard Armitage and Matt Bomer for roles in a possible remake but states she’d want Robert Downey Jr to play Lestat, the novel’s anti-hero.
Novelist Anne Rice has discussed the possibility of a new film version of her novel, Interview with the Vampire. The book is the first in her highly popular Vampire Chronicles novels and was adapted for film in 1994 in a movie starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, Kirsten Dunst and Christian Slater. At the time of the film’s production Rice was highly critical of Cruise’s casting as Lestat but after viewing the film she apologised and conceded he was a good choice.
It’s been nearly 20 years since the film was made and now the possibility of a remake is floating around and Rice has a few ideas over who she’d like to see in any such film. The novelist has stated that British actor Richard Armitage or actor Matt Bomer could play the part of Louis, the lover of Lestat. Richard Armitage will be known to UK audiences for his role as the Guy of Gisbourne in Robin Hood and Lucas North in the past two seasons of Spooks (MI-5 in America) he has also recently been cast in The Hobbit. As for the part of Lestat, the book’s anti-hero, well Rice is quite clear about who she wants for that: Robert Downey Jr.
He is a great actor. He would bring the gravitas and the wit and humor and all of that to the part, and I don’t think he’s too old. I think if he had a blond wig and makeup, he would be a wonderful Lestat. Lestat has to have the gravitas of a 200-year-old man and Robert Downey Jr. can do it. He can do anything. He’s just incredible. That would be wonderful. But I don’t know whether he’s really interested and I don’t know if that will work out. I hope so. I hope the rumors are true. …
Lestat is 200 years old. He wasn’t a boy when he became a vampire. A 19-year-old is a man in the eighteenth century, he’s not a boy. So physical appearance is just one aspect of this. There’s gotta be depth. There’s gotta be the real feeling that you’re in the hands of an immortal who’s commenting on things. And also his wit and humor, his mischievousness is so great. He’s just terrifically athletic and he’s got those incredible eyes and great voice —I think Robert Downey Jr. would do a bang-up job of it. – Anne Rice speaking to New York magazine
Anne Rice does hold the film rights to her novels so that counts for something but fans with a long memory will remember how another of the Vampire Chronicles novels was also adapted for film; The Queen of the Damned in 2002. The film version was a mish-mash of plot elements from The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned but left out huge parts of the plot – some very important parts of the plot – and was not a huge box office hit. The film starred Stuart Townsend, Aaliyah and Paul McGann.
So can we expect to hear of a new Interview with the Vampire anytime soon? Well Rice says: “I’m hoping that I will have something to announce soon.” – so watch this space!