Robert Downey Jr to be Lestat de Lioncourt?

[GreenScar]

Anne Rice Comments on Robert Downey Jr as Vampire Lestat

We recently learned that Robert Downey Jr was in-talks to play Lestat Du Lioncort in Universal Pictures' reboot of Anne Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles." Tom Cruise previously played the character in "Interview with the Vampire" and Stuart Townsend played him in "Queen of the Damned."

Now, BSC Review got a chance to ask Rice to comment on the casting news. "I cannot confirm or deny the rumor. I have not received official word as to the truth of it yet," she said. "But I can say without hesitation that I love Robert Downey Jr and I think he would make a fabulous Vampire Lestat."

She continued: "He is a major actor, a powerhouse of talent and personality, and he evinces an irrepressible and seductive charm. He would bring great energy and skill to the role. I would love to see this happen. So I hope the rumors are true."

"Some are saying he is too old to play the part. This is absolutely not true. He is quite youthful. Besides, Lestat is a man when he is made into a vampire. A twenty year old man in the 18th century is the equivalent of an older man today. Age just shouldn't be an issue here, not with an actor of this scope and charisma. — I’m thrilled at the prospect that this rumor might be true."

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Bloody Disgusting is reporting that Robert Downey Jr is in talks to play the role of Lestat in a reboot of Universal Picture's The Vampire Chronicles (you know, the original fey vamp books: Interview With a Vampire, The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned). This is shocking news - not that Universal is digging up the incredibly superior Anne Rice books in the wake of Twilight's fangularity, but that Downey wants another franchise.

Lestat was orginally played by Tom Cruise in the movie version of Interview With the Vampire; it's one of Cruise's best performances, and a fairly perfect role for the actor. I'm not as certain that Downey is as right - Lestat has a wry humor, but he's a relentless pretty boy. I also think Downey's too old for the role, and he's only going to get older if the franchise takes off. In The Vampire Lestat Lestat becomes a rock god - Downey is more believable as a rock god of the 80s making his comeback today.

I really dug the original adaptation of Interview With the Vampire, and I don't fully understand why it never quite hit and why the follow-up, a shitty take on Queen of the Damned, was so cheap and awful. If The Vampire Chronicles are coming back, I'm first in line. I just hope that the producers realize their Lestat needs to be a sleek, sexy 27 year old.

[ngkf7]

Interview never quite hitting? That was a wildly successful film.

Downey as Lestat...meh whatever. There are tons of other books in the series, no reason to simply reboot Interview.

[assydingo]

Movie could be cool. Not sure if Downey is best for the role.

[Moefiz]

Excellent news, If Downey can be signed for all three films even better...

Always liked Cruise in Interview With A Vampire.

[dcashdallas]

That's exciting either way. I would love for them to do a real nice adaptation of The Vampire Lestat. I think Downey could do just fine, but he wouldn't be my first choice. Just pick up where Interview left off. Ignore the Queen of the Damned mess. What's sad is that Queen of the Damned was probably my favorite book of the series (I did only read the first four though)

[PH3AR]

This movie could be interesting

[Tom Hiddleston]

I do love Robert Downey Jr. but The Vampire Diairies was such a good film, in my personal opinion, that I'm not sure there should be a remake, especially after that piece of crap movie Queen of the Damned. He would probably be my pick for a brand new character, but I think he could bring a fresh new feel to Lestat.

[Batman1980]

I think there NEEDS to be a reboot, the Queen of the Damned movie pretty much killed the franchise, hopefully this will do for Vampire Chronicles what Batman Begins did for Batman.

[edisonly]

wow
I really like watching vampire series
this man is handsome

[jadedeath]

Not sure if Downey would be a good fit... but hell, with Downey in it, I'll give it a shot.

Logan

[MyBlu-rayBrotherEd]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

Not sure if Downey would be a good fit... but hell, with Downey in it, I'll give it a shot.

Logan

+1

I think Tom Cruise did a really good job in Interview. Downey is a way better actor tho (IMO), maybe he can add something different and better. I'd check it out.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

Not sure if Downey would be a good fit... but hell, with Downey in it, I'll give it a shot.

Logan

I am with you.

Interview With The Vampire is one of the few movies that I actualy like by Tom Cruise (along with The Last Samurai). I usualy go for any Downey movies, I find him to be a very good actor. I am not sure I can picture him as Lestat but I will watch it for sure.

[Batman1980]

Robert Downey Jr will be much better in this role than Tom Cruise was, he'll nail the depressed yet arrogant demeanor of de Lioncourt better than Cruise ever did.

[Lucy Diamond]

I think the dude who plays Eric on True Blood could pull it off.

[GreenScar]

Anne Rice Comments on Robert Downey Jr as Vampire Lestat

We recently learned that Robert Downey Jr was in-talks to play Lestat Du Lioncort in Universal Pictures' reboot of Anne Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles." Tom Cruise previously played the character in "Interview with the Vampire" and Stuart Townsend played him in "Queen of the Damned."

Now, BSC Review got a chance to ask Rice to comment on the casting news. "I cannot confirm or deny the rumor. I have not received official word as to the truth of it yet," she said. "But I can say without hesitation that I love Robert Downey Jr and I think he would make a fabulous Vampire Lestat."

She continued: "He is a major actor, a powerhouse of talent and personality, and he evinces an irrepressible and seductive charm. He would bring great energy and skill to the role. I would love to see this happen. So I hope the rumors are true."

"Some are saying he is too old to play the part. This is absolutely not true. He is quite youthful. Besides, Lestat is a man when he is made into a vampire. A twenty year old man in the 18th century is the equivalent of an older man today. Age just shouldn't be an issue here, not with an actor of this scope and charisma. — I’m thrilled at the prospect that this rumor might be true."

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by Lucy Diamond

I think the dude who plays Eric on True Blood could pull it off.

Agreed, he's pretty good, though I'd like to see him play a witty character with some sass, instead of a totally serious fella.

[immortalchaos]

Interview was an excellent movie. No doubt Queen of the Damned sucked. I read a while back that there were going to do Memnoch the Devil with the guy from Queen. Then I came across another article saying that Cruise's studio bought the rights to the series so he could resume his role as Lestat which was one of his best roles. I guess all of that fell threw. I don't think Downy Jr is the right person for the role. He is a good actor as shown with his role as Tony Stark and some of his older 80's roles but he just isn't right for Lestat. I'm not saying they should just hire Cruise for the role either, although he did a great job the first time around. Ledger would have been able to play the role well but well we all know what happened to him. As someone else already said Lestat is a pretty boy and extremely vein and narcissistic as well as a sadist. He was also very self absorbed and spoiled. So with that in mind I am really not sure who could play him well enough for the series to not be cheesy.

[OrlandoEastwood]

Everyone knows you never go full vampire!

Tom Cruise, Interview with the Vampire.

Kate Beckinsale, Underworld.

Danny Houstan, 30 Days of Night.

You went full vampire! Never go full vampire.

LOL, I had to do that. Downey JR. is awesome, he'll pull it off.

[Lucy Diamond]

Originally Posted by Deads3t

Agreed, he's pretty good, though I'd like to see him play a witty character with some sass, instead of a totally serious fella.

Too true. I was thinking visually. It remains to be seen whether or not Alexander whats-his-name can nail Lestat's charm. Lestat wasn't really bad or good, but he was definitely a D!ck...that can be hard to accomplish.


Hollywood must REALLY be running out of ideas. I can see rebooting and remaking classic movies (although I don't really stand behind it), but I don't even think this movie is 20 yet.

They should just remaster and re-release movies like they used to do in the 80's and before.

Something like...every 5 years or so, StarWars would come to the local theaters.

Whenever they have special viewings of movies in New York (most recently Nightmare before Christmas) the theaters are PACKED.

[Batman1980]

We've been scrambling all week to confirm the following report, especially since it came from a very reliable source and is insanely logical considering the popularity of vampires these days. I guess something good has come from the success of Twilight as Bloody Disgusting has learned exclusively that Universal Pictures is looking to restart Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles, which tells the tale of the vampire Lestat Du Lioncort (through his narration), a nobleman-turned-vampire in the late 18th century. No word yet on how they plan on unrolling this franchise, but we did find out who they are talking with to replace Tom Cruise and Stuart Townsend. Read on for the skinny.

We have confirmed this afternoon that ROBERT DOWNEY JR. is in close talks to play the vampire Lestat in Universal Pictures' The Vampire Chronicles, a newly rebooted franchise based on Anne Rice's popular novels.

Lestat appears as a major character in both motion picture adaptations of The Vampire Chronicles novels. In Neil Jordan's 1994 film adaptation of Interview with the Vampire, he is portrayed by Tom Cruise. In the 2002 film adaptation of Queen of the Damned, he is played by Stuart Townsend.

The Vampire Chronicles is a series of novels by Anne Rice that revolves around the fictional character Lestat de Lioncourt, a French nobleman made into a vampire in the 18th century.

From Wiki: The Vampire Chronicles

Interview with the Vampire (1976)
The Vampire Lestat (1985)
The Queen of the Damned (1988)
The Tale of the Body Thief (1992)
Memnoch the Devil (1995)
The Vampire Armand (1998)
Merrick (2000)
Blood and Gold (2001)
Blackwood Farm (2002)
Blood Canticle (2003)

Source - Bloody Disgusting
If Downey Jr becomes Lestat that could be the spark this franchise needs to take it to the next level!