Robert Downey Jr. to Play Lestat in Anne Rice’s VAMPIRE CHRONICLES
Comments(21)
- By Venkman
Vampires are the new hip thing in Hollywood, it has become a growing trend, with the Twilight films, True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, Del Toro’s The Strain, more Underworld Films, Burton’s Dark Shadows, Proyas’ Dracula Year One, and several other vampire projects on the horizon, we have lots of Vampire enertainment to look forward to.
Now word has broke that Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles are making their way back to the big screen. This series tells the tale of the vampire Lestat Du Lioncort, a nobleman-turned-vampire in the late 18th century. Nothing has been said on how the franchise will be tackled this time around, but it has been confirmed by Bloody-Disgusting that Robert Downey Jr. is looking to get into the Vampire movie business by replacing Tom Cruise as Lestat in the series. Cruise played the character back in 1994 in Interview With A Vampire.
Robert Downey Jr. is in close talks with Universal Pictures to take on the role. Does he even have the time to take on a whole new franchise!? He’s got a couple of them going right now with Iron Man, and Sherlock Holmes.
I think Downey Jr. is a great actor, but for some reason it is very hard for me to see him as a vampire. Plus isn’t Lastat look much younger, like around the age of 27? When he decides to jump on, and take the role of Lastat, I guess we’ll find out how he does as one. What do all of you think about Downey Jr. taking on the role of Lastat?
From Wiki: The Vampire Chronicles
Interview with the Vampire (1976)
The Vampire Lestat (1985)
The Queen of the Damned (1988)
The Tale of the Body Thief (1992)
Memnoch the Devil (1995)
The Vampire Armand (1998)
Merrick (2000)
Blood and Gold (2001)
Blackwood Farm (2002)
Blood Canticle (2003)
As long as he doesn't fuckin' sparkle, I don't care.
I have to be the only horror fan in the world who has never given two shits about vampires. Sure, I watched Buffy, Angel and I love True Blood. But really? They just bore me.
i could see downy doing a good job or doing a very bad job. it will all come down to the role itself. downeys best roles are ones that you dong really see him as robert downey playing a character. but you forget that its even him in the movie. if they get a good screenwriter behind this i could see him being perfect for the role (especially when you think that lestat has the same type of arrogance that tony stark does.
I can see RDJr playing Lestat's father, but not Lestat. Lestat was really only supposed to be somewhere between 17 and 24 when he was turned, and he's supposed to be blonde with gray eyes. So yeah, no.
I'd have to agree with Vee, in saying that as long as he doesn't sparkle…those f**king kids and their love stories….
holy crap do not even try to compare twilight to lestat they are not the same and never will be (thank god)! as a huge lestat fan myself, I would love a vampire chronicles revamp (no pun intended), but robert downey, though charming, is a tad old for the role. he would be interesting as magnus, though.
by the way, its Lestat de Lioncourt, no Lestat du Lioncort. I'm sorry, but im very touchy about my vampires.
LOL the poor vampire chronicles…..
These movies are a great example of how a franchise can be bungled beyond belief.
looking at everyone's comments, it looks like I am not the only one sick of Vampire movies/TV/Comics/books…. I think we need to go back to zombies
No! I thought Stuart Townsend makes a much better Lestat.
Dude, seriously?
Well, he can't be worse than Townsend, the guy didn't get Lestat's character AT ALL. Lestat is supposed to be charming and devilish and only feed on evil-doers. Townsend was so bad it nearly turned me off reading anymore Anne Rice. Robert Downy Jr. may be older as far as the character is concerned, but he has played charming devils before. I REALLY don't give a sh*t how old he is if he even gets the character half right, which is more than I can say for Townsend and his failed attempt. I am just glad they aren't trying to give that creep the Dorian Gray role. Townsend has NO depth at all. Good luck Robert, give us a good Lestat. NO MORE SPARKLY VAMPIRES!!
I think this could help the Ann Rice book come back, it's a great idea
as long as any new movie is a little closer to the books than the Queen of the Damned, i loved the movie but was disappointed when it came to the actual story in corilation to the book
qotd was complete crap and did not follow the book it was based on at all except for extremely loose plotlines…however he is gorgeous so i watch it anyway
agreed!!! VAMPIRES DO NOT SPARKLE!!!!
*ahem* I have come to a conclusion about the cullen family. they obviously cannot be vampires because that is bullsh*t.
fact: the cullens sparkle in the sunlight
fact: water sparkles in the sunlight.
CONCLUSION: the cullen family is actually a band of carnivorous water nymphs. this also explains why they live in a town that rains all the time. Just saying. oddly enough, this is actually alot more plausible than them being vampires.
my thoughts exactly, we need a younger vibrant Lestat (no offense for Downey fans he is a great actor). I still recall his scene in Tropic Thunder "I'm a lead farmer motherf**ker"
Ahhhh Robert Downey Jr back in the day he use to suck down on some mayor drugs so i totally see him sucking down on people now….come on just think about it sucking on humans not that hard how do you think he got his career back ….yup thats right…..sucking on people literally…
Robert Downey, Jr. is too old. I would like Alex O'Loughlin to play Lestat. He would do the Anne Rice's character justice. He is a multifaceted brilliant actor. He has played a vampire before in Moonlight. He is 6'1", blue eyes, and sexy. He has been a blond character in one of his films. Alex is a baddie in the upcoming Whiteout with Kate Beckinsale. They talked vampires during filming.
I just had a 1990's flashback.
He is too old to be Lestat…who was young when he was transformed into a vampire and Rice's vampires do not age.
I think he's way too old, and (to me) he doesn't have Lestat-face, and I can't really picture him as a blonde…Though obviously can't be worse than Towsend, WTF was up with that movie anyway, it had absolutely nothing to do with the book except the names!
I actually think Tom Cruise did pretty well as Lestat, though not really 'pretty/beautiful' enough, as Lestat is always described…oh well.
I love the Vampire Chronicles. I have the whole collection. I just can't see Robert Downey Jr. playing Lestat. They need to get Stewart Townsend back as Lestat. Stewart Townsend did a really amazing job playing Lestat. I GET A REALLY BAD FEELING ABOUT ROBERT DOWNEY jr. PLAYING LESTAT.. Robert Downey jr isn't Lestat Material..
NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!