Robert Downey Jr to be Lestat de Lioncourt?

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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.