Downey Jr. Is The New Lestat?

[Darth Rockwell]

I had to take some time before responding to this. My first gut reaction was it was awsome news that we would be seeing Lestat. But then it hit me in said Robert Downey Jr. would be playing him. It was this second part that I'm not sure about. He is an awsome actor but I mean is he young enough?

 

[DarkKnight88]

Robert Downey Jr. definitely does NOT share Lestat's physical description in the books.

Lestat describes himself as six feet tall. He has blond hair that is not quite shoulder length, and that is slightly curly, which sometimes appears white under certain lighting. His eyes are gray, but they absorb the colors of blue or violet easily from surfaces around them. He has a short narrow nose,and a mouth that is well shaped,but has always been slightly large for his face. His mouth can look very mean, or extremely generous. But it always looks sensual. He has a continuously animated face. Lestat's fingernails (including all vampires in The Vampire Chronicles) look like they are made of glass.
Anne Rice has stated that Rutger Hauer was her original vision for Lestat when the book was being written in 1976.

But as for the personality, he could definitely pull it off.

Because of his boldness, enthusiasm, and defiance, Lestat's seniors refer to him affectionately as "the Brat Prince", a title of which he is very fond. He is very vain and concerned with fashion, and will pause mid-narrative to remind the reader what he is wearing. He enjoys performing on stage, which he does as both a mortal actor in Paris, France and a vampire in his rock band called The Vampire Lestat that he forms with a group of humans in the 1980s. Lestat is also fond of music: he sings, and he plays the piano and violin. Although he is illiterate as a mortal man, he learns to read and loves literature as a vampire. In one period of his life, he becomes a hermit and spends every night holed up at home, reading.

 

[Sarge 2.0]

I loves me some RDJ...but I can't picture him as Lestat at all. He's too old for the part, and he doesn't have the right look for the character.

 

[patrickbateman]

Bale SCREAMS Lestat in this pic still want TOM to return though.

 

[Darth Rockwell]

Bale needs to just go away. He is good as Batman but thats the only thing that I like him in. That man isn't a great actor and just cause he was able to save the Batman movies doesn't mean he needs to be in everything.

 

[Darth Rockwell]

Bale needs to just go away. He is good as Batman but thats the only thing that I like him in. That man isn't a great actor and just cause he was able to save the Batman movies doesn't mean he needs to be in everything.

 

[patrickbateman]

yeah but Downey Jr. needs to be in everything right?

 

[Boom]

I'm of the opinion that Downey is a vastly superior actor to Bale.

 

[Polux]

Bale SCREAMS Lestat in this pic still want TOM to return though.

Funny thing I´ve never thought of that...but so true !!!

In here we always say that Bale playing a vampire would be the bomb, yet, no one thought of Lestat, but yes, Bale playing Lestat would be simply amazing !!



Polux

 

[Matt Mortem]

No Bale. No Bale. He really isn't that good an actor. He was fine as Batman, but everything else I've seen him do has been ****.

 

[Polux]

No Bale. No Bale. He really isn't that good an actor. He was fine as Batman, but everything else I've seen him do has been ****.

Well...it´s all a matter of opinion...and I just don´t care about yours .


Polux

 

[Matt Mortem]

Well...it´s all a matter of opinion...and I just don´t care about yours .


Polux

well that's super......really super

 

[ross2287]

You guys bashing Bale need to watch American Psycho and The Machinist again.

 

[Figs]

You guys bashing Bale need to watch American Psycho and The Machinist again.

Seriously.

It's typical fanboy hate, he's gotten too much exposure so he's an easy target for people to talk **** about, "OMG, he's in everything, he's the suxor". Kind of like how people are *****ing about Depp being in so many Burton films even though he's a great actor and plays a different character each time.

To me I'm not sure if I can see Bale as Lestat but I do think he's a damn good actor and it's only because he goes after somewhat similar characters(deep personal issues, not upbeat at all) is why I think some people think he sucks. If they could actually tell a subtle actor/performance from your typical style of overacting in Hollywood they might have a bit more respect for him though since his performances have all been different even if they characters are similar at times.

 

[Darth Rockwell]

yeah but Downey Jr. needs to be in everything right?

No he does not. I'm just saying just because actors are popular doesn't mean they need to be in everything. I would preffer neither in this franchise. Cast a new comer. An unkown who people aren't expecting. Each of these actors, Bale and Downey, have certain ways they do things. We need someone who isn't going to wiegh this down because of expectations.

 

[Kabuki_Jo]

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

I agree completely.

 

[Kabuki_Jo]

Sorry, double post.

 

[Sawyer]

Seriously.

It's typical fanboy hate, he's gotten too much exposure so he's an easy target for people to talk **** about, "OMG, he's in everything, he's the suxor". Kind of like how people are *****ing about Depp being in so many Burton films even though he's a great actor and plays a different character each time.

To me I'm not sure if I can see Bale as Lestat but I do think he's a damn good actor and it's only because he goes after somewhat similar characters(deep personal issues, not upbeat at all) is why I think some people think he sucks. If they could actually tell a subtle actor/performance from your typical style of overacting in Hollywood they might have a bit more respect for him though since his performances have all been different even if they characters are similar at times.

Yeah, the Bale hate has been really pissing me off.

 

[Octoberist]

this bale hate makes me wanna eat my own hand!!

 

[TheFuture]

I'm of the opinion that Downey is a vastly superior actor to Bale.

I wouldn't say that Downey Jr. is streets ahead of Bale (they are IMO on a level par), but what Downey Jr. has in stacks is charisma. And when you have charisma, people will find it a lot easier to watch your films.

Bale is a great actor but he is at a crossroads in his career where he really needs to show how much range he possesses.

 

[Brian Braddock]

I'd rather see Cruise reprise the role again to be honest - Lestat's still one of his best, most menacing performances to date; so much so that even Anne Rice, who absolutely savaged Cruise when she heard he was cast, took out a full page editioral to say how wrong she'd been after she'd seen the movie.

Anyone who needs confirmation as to just how good he was in the role need only watch Stuart Townsend portrayal of the character in Queen of the Damned.

I think Cruise is still youthfull looking enough to be buyable too, not to mention that makeup and SFX makeup will be used also.

 

[Nivek]

Lestat was a really young looking guy ( like 21 years old) tall with blond hair and blue eyes. Why in the hell would they cast a little dark eyed brunette guy pushing 50 to play him? At least Cruise was in his 30's when he played the character, and wore extensive wigs and make-up.

This Downey thing sounds like a bunch of B.S.

 

[Bim]

You guys bashing Bale need to watch American Psycho and The Machinist again.

QFT

As for RDJ puliing this off? i believe he could. Odd that they wouldnt try to bring back Cruise to reprise the role though...

 

[DACrowe]

Bale needs to just go away. He is good as Batman but thats the only thing that I like him in. That man isn't a great actor and just cause he was able to save the Batman movies doesn't mean he needs to be in everything.

<Shakes head in disbelief and pity>

 

[DACrowe]

No Bale. No Bale. He really isn't that good an actor. He was fine as Batman, but everything else I've seen him do has been ****.

Again.



<Shakes head in pity and shame.>



Honestly, do you guys just judge him based on Terminator and Batman or something?

If someone can watch Empire of the Sun, Henry V, Newsies (a freaking musical), American Psycho, The Machinist, The Prestige, Rescue Dawn, 3:10 to Yuma and even his relatively reserved performance in Public Enemies and still call him a bad or limited actor....well there are just no words to describe that.