Years before the ‘twi-hards’ of Twilight started working themselves into a frenzy over every move made by Edward Cullen, there was really only one bloodsucker of choice for vampire devotees: yes, it was Team Lestat all the way.
I’m referring, of course, to Lestat de Lioncourt, the louche, charismatic creature of the night at the centre of bestselling author Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles.
Introduced as something of an anti-hero in Rice’s 1976 novel Interview With the Vampire, Lestat gradually evolved into a roguish but charming vamp in subsequent books.
And in the two decades leading up to Interview With the Vampire making its way to the multiplex, every fan of the books had their own opinion about who should portray the character. Daniel Day-Lewis was a frontrunner for a while; Johnny Depp reportedly turned the role down.
When it was announced, however, that Tom Cruise would play Lestat in Neil Jordan’s 1994 film, the general response was a bemused ‘WTF?’
But Cruise’s performance has come to be regarded as an intriguing and mostly successful stretch for the all-American actor, with Rice taking back the negative comments she initially made concerning his casting.
Lestat’s movie-star status proved fleeting, though. Queen of the Damned, a made-in-Melbourne sequel starring Irish actor Stuart Townsend as Lestat, was a critical and commercial flop, and plans to adapt other Vampire Chronicles titles stalled out.
The ubiquitous presence of Twilight star Robert Pattinson on, oh, every magazine cover in the world has made it abundantly clear that vampires are so hot right now, and so there’s been talk of rebooting the tales of Lestat and his bloodsucking brethren for the big screen.
And at the top of the studio’s wishlist? Robert Downey, Jr.
Like most right-minded people in the world, I’m a fan of RDJ. He’s one of those actors whose name makes you exclaim ‘Of course!’ whenever he’s connected to a role, whether it’s Charlie Chaplin or Iron Man.
And on paper, his dramatic chops, quicksilver wit and ability to convey danger, decadence and mischief in a likeable, alluring way make him an ideal choice for Lestat.
Downey, Jr is reportedly in talks with Universal Pictures to star in a new film version of Interview With the Vampire, with the line of thinking being that the other novels in Rice’s series will eventually follow.
To which I say…ah, I dunno. Normally I’d back any decision to cast this actor in just about anything. But there are a couple of issues about RDJ as Lestat that give me pause.
And one of them, it must be said, is age. In Rice’s mythology, Lestat became a vampire in his 20s. Downey, Jr is 44…a healthy and youthful-looking 44, certainly, but still 44.
Now, Rice has already given RDJ her stamp of approval, stating recently that “a 20-year-old man in the 18th century is the equivalent of an older man today.
“Age just shouldn’t be an issue here, not with an actor of this scope and charisma. He is a powerhouse of talent and personality, and he evinces an irrepressible and seductive charm.”
No argument here, but I can’t help but think it makes sense from a franchise perspective to go a little younger with the casting. As one online pundit astutely pointed out: “Hell, Zac Efron is more suited to Lestat than RDJ.”
Hey, let’s not say anything we’ll regret later!
But in the absence of Heath Ledger (who would have been perfect), I’ve been thinking that the likes of Cillian Murphy, Ben Whishaw or Bronson star Tom Hardy might fill Lestat’s shoes quite comfortably. (Hell, you could even go with DiCaprio if you need star power.)
The casting of Lestat aside, however, any remake of Interview With the Vampire simply must cast young Isabelle Fuhrman, star of the current horror hit Orphan, as child vampire Claudia.
This, Hollywood, is not open to negotiation.