Interview with the Vampire’s upcoming third season will begin filming soon, and it will adapt book two of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles series, The Vampire Lestat. That book, which explores Lestat’s complex backstory before he ever met Louis in New Orleans, introduces a lot of major characters into the series. One major character, Lestat’s mortal lover Nicolas, appeared briefly already in season two, played by Joseph Potter (although his role was so small, he could be recast).
All of these major characters from The Vampire Lestat have been confirmed as being a part of season three by the show’s creators. But who will play these major additions to the show? We know who we’d like to see take on these iconic characters. Some we’ll admit are “pie in the sky” choices, as they are name actors. We present three choices for actors we’re dying to see for each new character addition. And who knows? Some might actually happen.
Akasha, the Queen of the Damned
Interview with the Vampire Fancast Choices: Zoë Kravitz, Indya Moore, Bianca Lawson
Queen Akasha is the literal mother of all vampires in Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, and is over 6,000 years old. Transformed in the days of ancient Egypt, she sired the whole undead race. Several thousand years ago, she stopped moving entirely, frozen like a statue. She and her husband needed to be kept in secret, because if someone destroyed them, all other vampires the world over would die with them. Lestat wakes her from her long slumber with his rock music, only to see Akasha declare herself a genocidal goddess.
The late musician Aaliyah originated the role in 2002’s Queen of the Damned. And she’s possibly the only memorable thing about that film. We think Zoë Kravitz has the perfect demeanor to play royal with a touch of seductive malice, so we’d totally fancast her to be in Interview with the Vampire. However, she may be too busy soon in Gotham City for The Batman – Part II. Pose star Indya Moore has the right etheric beauty for this beautiful (but evil) character. Finally, Bianca Lawson once played Kendra the Vampire Slayer on Buffy. She might be a real vampire for all we know, because she does not seem to age. But we think this ex-vampire slayer could easily transition into the Queen of the Damned.
King Enkil
Interview with the Vampire Fancast Choices: Mena Massoud, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Mehcad Brooks
The other half of the original vampiric couple, famously referred to as “Those Who Must Be Kept,” is King Enkil. Akasha’s royal Egyptian consort is not as important as Akasha is in the overall narrative, but he is an important player nevertheless. We think Aladdin star Mena Massoud would be ideal, as would Kelvin Harrison Jr., most recently seen in Elvis. Former Jimmy Olsen Mehcad Brooks from Supergirl will also be an excellent choice. And, as a former True Blood cast member, he has some experience with the world of the undead.
Gabrielle de Lioncourt
Interview with the Vampire Fancast Choices: Michelle Pfeiffer, Gillian Anderson, Kirsten Dunst
In Rice’s novel The Vampire Lestat, Gabrielle is Lestat’s mortal mother. The Marquises of a neglectful and cruel blind aristocrat in the 18th century French countryside, Gabrielle is cold and distant to most. She is only close to one of her children, her son Lestat. When she’s dying of consumption, Lestat transforms her into a vampire. Gabrielle becomes a very interesting character as one of the undead, who becomes even more detached from humanity than her own flamboyant son.
We think screen legend Michelle Pfieffer fits this role perfectly. But we admit, she may be out of AMC’s price range. And she’s currently filming a Yellowstone series. Another ideal option is X-Files and Hannibal icon Gillian Anderson. And although this is a bit of stunt casting, since she originated the role of Claudia in Interview with the Vampire the film, Kirsten Dunst would slay the house down as Gabrielle. She’d have to be aged up about ten years, but we could see her killing this role. The role, and also lots of unfortunate victims.
Marius de Romanus
Interview with the Vampire Fancast Choices: Paul Bettany, Sam Claflin, Lee Pace
Marius de Romanus is a hugely important character in Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, and to Lestat and Armand personally. Born in ancient Rome, Marius was the keeper of “Those Who Must Be Kept,” the first two vampires in existence. They needed keeping because they were the source of all the vampire species’ power. He is the sire of Armand, and mentor to Lestat. A prolific painter, Rice describes him always as a very sophisticated and wise vampire. An immortal centuries older than most of the others in Rice’s series.
We think someone who’s great at playing “wicked cool,” like Paul Bettany would be perfect as Marius, who was in his forties when transformed into a blood drinker. Although he may be busy soon with Marvel Studios’ upcoming Vision series. Another good choice would be Peaky Blinders’ Sam Claflin, also famous for his role in The Hunger Games. Someone who is also no stranger to playing wise immortals (in this case, an elf) thanks to The Hobbit films is Lee Pace. He’s another actor we think embodies Marius, as he can play ancient, wise, and dangerous all at once.
Magnus
Interview with the Vampire Fancast Choices: Jeremy Irons, Charles Dance, Ian McShane
Magnus is the ancient vampire who transformed Lestat. Unlike most of the vamps in Rice’s world, he’s not particularly young, or particularly sexy. He was actually an alchemist who stole the blood from an imprisoned vampire, using it to transform himself into an immortal. He later became an outcast from other vampires, turning an old tower outside France into his lair. Eventually going mad, he chose Lestat as his successor, before ending his existence by engulfing himself in fire.
Since Magnus is an older character in appearance, we think it requires someone who is both gruff and erudite at the same time. Our first choice would be Oscar winner Jeremy Irons, who was Rice’s first choice to play Lestat many decades ago. Also fantastic would be Charles Dance, who most famously played Tywin Lannister on Game of Thrones. Finally, Ian McShane exudes menace in the right role, and especially after American Gods we could see him making a terrifying (but also funny) version of Magnus.