Will Robert Downey Jr. Be the Next Lestat?
Filed under: Horror, Romance, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, Universal, RumorMonger, Newsstand, Tom Cruise, Remakes and Sequels
Like everyone in the civilized world, I love Robert Downey Jr., and it's because I love him that I fervently hope that this fangbanger rumor hits sunlight, and bursts into flames. Bloody Disgusting reports that Universal is looking to cash in on the blood-sucking frenzy, and reboot Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles, and that Downey is in talks to play the famous Lestat de Lioncourt.Lestat was the hero of most of Rice's vampire novels. Blond, bisexual, and a blend of poetry and snark, his seductive powers led him into all kinds of scrapes. He seduced men and women, ran around with the Devil, swapped bodies with humans, seduced the first vampire (who just happened to be an Egyptian queen), and found time to be a rock star. At thirteen, he was one of the most wonderful literary characters I had ever met and by my 20s I found him pretty annoying. Your mileage may vary. But I was one of the few who actually liked Neil Jordan's Interview with the Vampire, and enjoyed Tom Cruise in the role, and was always disappointed that they didn't go on to make The Vampire Lestat together. I think Cruise could have done good things with that installment.
To bring it back now just feels wrong. It feels like a series that time has just passed by, and so much of Rice has been ripped off by every vampire series after that it's not going to really offer anything new. But if they go through with it (and with Twilight and True Blood winding everyone up, I have no doubt they will), they have to look elsewhere for Lestat, don't you think? Downey is wrong for the role, far more ill-suited to the Frenchman's fangs than Cruise ever was. Hopefully, it won't come to pass, and a new Chronicles will only happen in a universe where Alexander Skarsgard can take the role because he isn't on True Blood.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-15-2009 @ 10:13AM
Ropetrick said...
the should make George R. R. Martin's "Fevre Dream" instead. With Liam Neeson as the Lead Vampire.
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8-15-2009 @ 12:53PM
Andy said...
Yeah...it's something to leave alone I would say too.
I wonder where all of this vampire love is coming from lately. Everywhere you turn. I just saw a trailer for 'The Vampire's Apprentice' last night. A vampire comedy.
And I'm with you...I really liked 'Interview with a Vampire', Cruise and all.
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8-15-2009 @ 3:58PM
Nicolás said...
Please, no more glam vampires, they are so 90s. It's enough with what we already have.
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8-15-2009 @ 4:10PM
paul said...
If they must remake a vampire move and RDjr is to be in it I think the Fearless Vampire Killers would be a good choice. RD is a comedic actor, really and I think the role would suit him.
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8-15-2009 @ 5:58PM
Jaded said...
Okay, I've had enough already. Don't get me wrong I'm a huge fan of vampires in literature or for that matter in chic lit. I liked the original Interview and even thought Tom Cruise did a pretty good job as Lestate, but since the filmmakers pretty much screwed the pooch on that one by trying to combine The Vampire Lesate and Queen of the Damned into one extremely long music video, the series had to end. If they really feel the need to make an Anne Rice book into a film there are still eight more for them make, no need to revisit the past on those.
I really can't picture Robert Downey Jr. as Lestat (although I do have to agree with you about Alexander Skaarsgard), but then again I couldn't picture Tom Cruise as Lestat either until I saw the movie.
I'm thinking that maybe the studios should attempt to go for an ounce of creativity and find another series to make, go for two ounces and find another supernatural being to rape, plunder and pillage. I hear that witches are still available as Harry Potter didn't cause such a frenzy of market saturation. Maybe, as Percy Jackson is coming out we can move onto Gods.
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8-15-2009 @ 10:18PM
PMMF Custodian said...
I'm tired of the entire vampire thing, really, although True Blood lately has been somewhat of a guilty pleasure. TB is a soap opera, really, and it works on a pure pulpy fun basis.
Thing about Robert Downey Jr. -- he's 10 times the actor that Cruise ever could be. I think he'd necessarily have to play an "older" looking Lestat, but if anyone can breathe new life into the role, it's him.
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8-16-2009 @ 5:00AM
Rhys said...
They better bloody not bring Downey Jr to such a low as a vampire. Hes so much better then that.
Absolutely sick of hearing about vampire related flicks.
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8-16-2009 @ 5:46AM
V.M.L. said...
I have no problem with RDJ playing Lestat. In fact, I see it as a major improvement. :D
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8-17-2009 @ 5:11AM
Martina said...
OOOOOOOMMMMGGGGGGGGGGG! I am Lestat´s huge fan - wanna name my kid after him - and when I heard that they want RDJ to play him, I was like - WWWWWWWWWWOOO HHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOUUUU! He is my fav actor, and even if I imagined Lestat more like e.g. singer Martin Rolinski, Robert is gonna be GREAT! He is a great comedy actor, hé´s smart and capable of breathing life to the character. But, anyway, I doubt that he could beat Cruise. I don´t like him, but he was magnificient in that role. BT, it was role of his life. Whem I saw him onscreen, I was scared for the next two months.
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8-16-2009 @ 6:07PM
Natalie said...
Would like to see Alex O'Loughlin from Moonlight in the role of Lestat. He would do Anne Rice's work justice. I think that Robert Downey, Jr. is too old and all wrong for the part. Alex is an Anne Rice fan himself and has said so in other interviews. Alex O'Loughlin is a brilliant actor, smoldering with sensuality and good looks. He has a deep masculine voice and a strong muscular physique. Beyond that, Alex is smart, compassionate, and cerebral.
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8-16-2009 @ 9:59PM
paul said...
ooh too old, i'm sure he'd be happy to read that.
8-16-2009 @ 10:10PM
Natalie said...
Tom Cruise was 32 when he did Interview with a Vampire, Robert Downey is 44. Alex O'Loughlin is going to be 33 August 24. You do the math.
8-16-2009 @ 10:55PM
ahoy said...
Downey will have a hard time filling in the shoes of Cruise as Lestat. Cruise is one incredible actor; critics and fans loved Cruise as Lestat. Even EW did a homage to him and that Twilighters ought to take note from Cruise Lestat.
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9-25-2009 @ 11:02PM
Madame de Merteuil said...
"Downey will have a hard time filling in the shoes of Cruise as Lestat. Cruise is one incredible actor; critics and fans loved Cruise as Lestat. Even EW did a homage to him and that Twilighters ought to take note from Cruise Lestat."
Amen to that.
As for Twilight, sorry, but i just can't see what all the fuss is about. I don't even think I'd have enjoyed it when I was a teenager.
8-17-2009 @ 8:11PM
Jason said...
Cruise is LeStat. Nuff said.
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8-17-2009 @ 8:55PM
paul said...
I think Interview with a Vampire would be a movie I'd really enjoy seeing on the big screen, again. In fact, it would make an excellent companion movie for some of the Twilight movies. A most excellent midnight movie as it were.
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8-21-2009 @ 11:30PM
ErinN said...
I would love to see Alexander Skarsgard get a leading role in any good movie. I could watch this guy read the phone book and be enthralled with just the sound of his voice. He is one Swexy Swede and makes one Striking Viking on TB.
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8-24-2009 @ 3:44AM
nizam said...
Robert Downey Jr is I think one of the best actor in the world, but I don't think he is suitable to play/act as Lestat de Lioncourt, not that he is not capable of bringing the character to life, I'm sure he can act as Lestat, its just that physically he can't be Lestat..one person that I think can be Lestat is TAYLOR KITSCH from Friday Night Lights and Wolverine Origin (Gambit)…all they need to do is to make him blonde and give him blue lenses for his eyes...
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9-21-2009 @ 4:00PM
Exoticat22 said...
I want to see good adaptations of these novels. With the world suddenly making decent adaptations of great books, Yes please! Besides they have to redeem the disaster that was "Queen of the Damned" Great book, awful movie. That was just Hollywood abusing a great idea to get money from fans.
As far as Robert Downey Jr. goes? Why not? Many people thought Tom Cruise couldn't do it when he was announced. Downey's a good actor which is a requirement and as a good actor he should be able to succeed in any role. In Hollywood age doesn't matter, look at what they did with Benjamin Button...what matters is that Downey has the chops for it. In Hollywood they can make you look like anything they want you to, and I for one would rather have a good actor like Downey in it than just someone who resembles Lestat.
In addition Anne Rice herself condones Downey as Lestat.
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9-25-2009 @ 10:43PM
Madame de Merteuil said...
Tom Cruise was amzing as Lestat and, seing what can be done with good make up then Adobe After Effects, he could reprise the role despite his age. So why look for another actor?
I already had the same misgiving when Queen of the Damned was made...and I was right, Stuart Townsend was just awful. Nothing wrong with the guy in general. But as Lestat, he was a disaster.
Robert Downey Jr is talented, but I do not think he could be a good Lestat. To see what I mean, watch "Restoration", a costume movie where he stars. RDJ seems to shine in self deprecating roles. Lestat is anything but self-deprecating.
So, again, why not stick with the person who did well in the role in the first place?
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