Rice wants RDJ to be The Vampire Lestat

[Bat-Mite]

Man... I love RDJ, and he definitely has the personality, but he's a bit old. Lestat's supposed to be a 20-something, right? Anywho, here's the story:

Robert Downey Jr. as Lestat? Anne Rice digs it

There's been a lot of talk about breathing new life into Anne Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles" book series for the big screen, and the author believes she's found the ideal actor to play toothy Lestat: Robert Downey Jr.

"That would be wonderful. He is a great actor," she tells New York magazine's Vulture. "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."

A golden-locked Tom Cruise played the studly bloodsucker in 1994's "Interview With the Vampire," and Rice believes 45-year-old Downey could really sink his teeth into the role with a little help from the professionals.

"I think if he had a blond wig and makeup, he would be a wonderful Lestat," explains Rice, who says there have only been talks about doing a movie reboot but no firm plans as of yet.

"Lestat has to have the gravitas of a 200-year-old man and Robert Downey Jr. can do it," Rice said. " He can do anything. He’s just incredible… But I don’t know whether he’s really interested and I don’t know if that will work out. I hope so."

As for who could fill Brad Pitt's fangs as the tortured Louis, Rice has a certain TV star in mind.

"Matt Bomer is a beautiful, beautiful guy," she says of the "White Collar" actor. "He could play Louis."

Matt Bomer is a great call for Louis, though. I dunno why I'm so interested, though, since I stopped reading those books years ago. And I have mixed feelings about them. They're several steps above Twilight, but still many steps below the nasty horrors that vampires used to be.

 

[SuperFerret]

I like the Anne Rice novels. They exemplify one of the best portrayals of vampires as both seductive and monstrous there has been since Dracula (which, while originally vampires were bestial monsters, is the best addition to the mythos). Too often, one or the other gets sacrificed in favor of the opposite. The Twilight vampires are all seduction (and PG rated seduction at that), no monster. Buffy's vampires were more monster (and *****ebag, average guy) than outright proper seduction.

Downey Jr. would be good for Lestat, though I'm not sure how RDJ would look as a blond.

 

[Boom]

While RDJ is, in fact, a god among men, I don't see how Rice could think he isn't too old. He's double the age of Lestat, and he certainly looks it. So unless they change the character's age (which I guess wouldn't be such a horrible thing), this casting just wouldn't fit. No one could buy RDJ as a twenty-year-old.

And SuperFerret, he was blonde in Tropic Thunder (as Kirk Lazarus).

 

[SuperFerret]

Yeah, I know, but I picture Lestat with Fabio-length blonde hair, and that's what I meant.

 

[Eggyman]

RDJ's a handsome guy. He could pull it off no worries at all. The age thing doesn't matter so much--there's much worse examples of ignoring/avoiding what's been set in stone/written on paper.

 

[Bat-Mite]

I like the Anne Rice novels. They exemplify one of the best portrayals of vampires as both seductive and monstrous there has been since Dracula (which, while originally vampires were bestial monsters, is the best addition to the mythos). Too often, one or the other gets sacrificed in favor of the opposite. The Twilight vampires are all seduction (and PG rated seduction at that), no monster. Buffy's vampires were more monster (and *****ebag, average guy) than outright proper seduction.

I suppose you're right. I just have a general "meh." feeling about them these days, though. It's probably because the last few novels declined in quality big time and left a sour taste in my mouth. I remember not being able to get enough of the first three novels, though. And Memnoch the Devil was a nice mindf***.

 

[SuperFerret]

Memnoch wasn't the best of the series, but I find it to be the most memorable.

 

[Eggyman]

I've only read Interview.

 

[SuperFerret]

Lestat was the best in my opinion. I wasn't impressed with Interview.

 

[Eggyman]

I wasn't much either. That's probably why I never continued the series. Not so much the story as the writing. I think she tries too hard and sounds too much like a writer.

 

[Raiden]

I think RDJ is an amazing actor, but unfortunately he's too old to play Lestat. However, if it is between an old RDJ or Stuant Townsend (from Queen of the Damned), I'd pick RDJ every time.

 

[bullets]

I think RDJ could pull it off but would he want to? I'd like them to return to this series but only if it matches the quality of Interview. I wanted to like Queen of the Damned but it was sort of a mess.

 

[Darkness Falls]

I think RDJ is an amazing actor, but unfortunately he's too old to play Lestat. However, if it is between an old RDJ or Stuant Townsend (from Queen of the Damned), I'd pick RDJ every time.

i liked Stuant Townsend as lestat

 

[I Am The Knight]

I don't think this should happen...And I don't think RDJ would be interested in another franchise right now... He's already got two...

As far as the books go, I love 'em dearly, altough I've only read up until Memnoch The Devil.

 

[Phoenix_Flare]

the only thing good about Queen of the Damned was the late Aaliyah as Akasha...her few scenes made the movie worth watching and made it interesting everything else was a bore...

 

[DACrowe]

I actually really liked Interview with the Vampire. But if they're restarting (the less said about the Stuart Townsend affair, the better) Downey is too old. He would have been a great Lestat in 1994! He still would have been great in 2004. But Lestat should not look middle aged, in my opinion.

 

[tecnowraith]

Now imagine him with longer hair. It could work!?

 

[Octoberist]

I think the problem would be the sequels. Even though RDJ still looks good for his age, he is in his mid 40s afterall and Lestat can't age in the sequels. Make-up and CGI work would be a waste of time so why not just get a younger actor?

 

[Valaquen]

I really wouldn't mind Brad Pitt and Cruise back, I'm a sucker for continuity.