Downey Jr. Is The New Lestat?

[Galactus]

By Garth Franklin
Friday August 14th 2009 08:23PM
Universal Pictures is allegedly looking at potentially rebooting Anne Rice's popular novel series "The Vampire Chronicles" reports Bloody Disgusting.

The site also says they confirmed this afternoon that Robert Downey Jr. is in close talks to play the vampire Lestat, a role made famous by Tom Cruise in Neil Jordan's 1994 effort "Interview with the Vampire" and Stuart Townsend in Michael Rymer's 2002 film "Queen of the Damned".

Warner Brothers Pictures previously held the rights to the series and owns the two previous films. No word on what this reboot would entail - restarting from the beginning or jumping right the next novel "The Tale of the Body Thief".

 

[That-Guy]

But... isn't RDJ a bit old for this? I mean, he's a great actor, but LeStat never ages, does he? Make up can only do so much...

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Although it would be awesome to see RDJ play a vampire I have to say that he is a bit old. I don't know alot about the character but I figured he was younger than RDJ.

 

[Lighthouse]

I can't help but find something very ironic in this casting. Usually, its studios casting a 20ish hot throb in roles that should be played by more mature, talented actors. In this case, it kind of needs to be the opposite. You really need a talented young actor for this. Even more ironic? Robert Pattinson is actually a pretty good actor, and would be much more suited to this role than what he's doing in Twilight.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

The R-patz haters are going to eat you alive because they can't seem to understand that movies with bad directions and poorly written characters can hurt an actors performance.

Ask the actors from the new Star Wars flicks.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I hope that if they go into this direction they'll actually depict the Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned novels faithfully. I hated that they crammed two books into one film.

 

[Matt Mortem]

I hope that if they go into this direction they'll actually depict the Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned novels faithfully. I hated that they crammed two books into one film.

I agree with you 100%. I'm actually really happy to hear they're doing something with this franchise. I've been really itchin' for a good vampire movie and I love Anne Rice's Vampire novels so I'm fairly excited.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I agree with you 100%. I'm actually really happy to hear they're doing something with this franchise. I've been really itchin' for a good vampire movie and I love Anne Rice's Vampire novels so I'm fairly excited.

Interview with the Vampire was good and was actually very faithful to the book despite some minor changes. Other than that it maintained respect to the original material.

Queen of the Damned is where it got ugly, predictable, and watered down. I think the idea was nice, however, it was a film that one could tell was rushed to make the end of production and make a quick buck.

The Vampire Lestat is one of my favorite vampire novels because of the strong emotion, the character development, and how extremely well written and detailed it is. I actually prefer they do a proper Vampire Lestat adaptation and THEN do Queen of the Damned.

 

[dark_b]

I can't help but find something very ironic in this casting. Usually, its studios casting a 20ish hot throb in roles that should be played by more mature, talented actors. In this case, it kind of needs to be the opposite. You really need a talented young actor for this. Even more ironic? Robert Pattinson is actually a pretty good actor, and would be much more suited to this role than what he's doing in Twilight.

that is so true

 

[TheFuture]

I love RDJ, but I don't think he'd be right for this role as he hasn't got the build or the felionish features that Lestat is meant to have. Even though I don't care for Cillian Murphy I think he would be someone that would be perfect for Lestat.

 

[dark_b]

RDJ has iron man(plus avengers) and now sherlock holmes.

plus isnt he also in Cowboys and Aliens?

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I just hope whoever is cast for Lestat isn't immediately compared to Tom Cruise. Now while Tom Cruise did a fine job as Lestat, there is still improvement to be made and they really ruined continuity and the potential by cramming Lestat/Queen of the Damned into one film.

Honestly, I feel they should just do The Vampire Lestat and whoever they cast needs to be able to pull off the complex nature of him. I've always wanted to see Magnus search in vein for a heir to his wealth, his obsession with significant blonde hair blue eyed heirs, and of course siring Lestat in the process.

I also want to see Lestat's relationship with his mother Gabrielle as that was some of my favorite dialogue and scenarios in the book.

Overall there is an endless amount of potential to be explored here and I sincerely hope they do it right if it happens.

 

[Octoberist]

I agree that RDJ, as much as I like him, is too old for Lestat. And if they do continue on with more movies, RDJ is just gonna look older.

 

[rdh007]

I love RDJ, but I don't think he'd be right for this role as he hasn't got the build or the felionish features that Lestat is meant to have. Even though I don't care for Cillian Murphy I think he would be someone that would be perfect for Lestat.

Firstly, love the avvy.

Secondly, Cillian Murphy would have to turn up the charm in a way I haven't seen him. But I've only seen him in Cold Mountain and Batman. But I would agree that age-wise and appearance, he'd have to be in the discussion.

 

[Superfreak]

I hope that if they go into this direction they'll actually depict the Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned novels faithfully. I hated that they crammed two books into one film.

they certainly have to tell the story properly. Lestat doesn't need to have interview, but QoD needs both books for the story to make sense.

QoD is probably one of the worst movies I've seen... as an adaptation. If I were Rice, I'd have crushed that movie out of existance before release with my ownership.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Anything to help propel proper vampires back into the media again go for it. RBJ can show them.

 

[CHEZ]

He really doesn't sound right for the role, but every time I think that, he proves me wrong.

 

[bullets]

Cruise still looks great, I think they should try to get him back.

 

[Nightmare]

I would love to see RDJ's take on a Vampire as Lestat.

 

[DACrowe]

I really like RDJ and ten to fifteen years ago this would be good casting. But he is too old. If they're casting old, why not just bring Cruise back as he nailed the role?

In any case I hope it is a faithful and artistic adaptation of The Vampire Lestat. I only cared for the first two books, so if they go beyond that fine. If not, we at least have a good adaptation of the novels IWTV and TVL. That is what is important.

 

[Bastila]

Yeah a remake or boot would be great, I never was a fan of the film don't know why just wasn't so yeah and plus Downey Jr in it I am soooo there.

 

[Superfreak]

I really like RDJ and ten to fifteen years ago this would be good casting. But he is too old. If they're casting old, why not just bring Cruise back as he nailed the role?

In any case I hope it is a faithful and artistic adaptation of The Vampire Lestat. I only cared for the first two books, so if they go beyond that fine. If not, we at least have a good adaptation of the novels IWTV and TVL. That is what is important.

Cruise was too old when he played the part, let alone today.

Interview and Lestat are great books. But Queen of the Damned is the story that explains everything. It's too bad they dropped the ball with the existing movie, because the story is epic.

 

[xwolverine2]

thats just terrible casting...

RDJ needs to calm down he's in everything... and when that usually happens people will tire of him.

 

[Silvermoth]

I'm glad Lestat is getting a new outing. I've been hoping for one for years. I do agree that RDJ is perhaps not my first choice. James McAvoy is my favourite choice. Or perhaps Charlie Hunnam although sometimes I think he gets suggested for everything.

 

[ross2287]

thats just terrible casting...

RDJ needs to calm down he's in everything... and when that usually happens people will tire of him.

How could anyone get tired of RDJ? It's mathematically impossible.

The only thing I'm tired of is vampires and movies about them.