AMC’sInterview with the Vampireseries has officially found its Lestat the vampire in Sam Reid. The British actor has reportedly signed on to star in the lead role as Lestat on the upcoming series based on the popular Anne Rice novel of the same name. It’s said that this casting could represent a long-term investment in Reid, as AMC has also secured the rights to all of Rice’sThe Vampire Chroniclesbooks, many of which also feature Lestat.
This casting makes Reid the third actor to portray the vampire Lestat in a live-action movie on the big screen. He was famously played by Tom Cruise in 1994’sInterview with the Vampirebefore Stuart Townsend later took on another incarnation of the character for 2002’sQueen of the Damned. Should Reid end up reprising the role in addition projects for AMC, he would be the first to play Lestat multiple times.
Sam Reidis best known for his roles in movies likeAnonymous,Belle, andThe Railway Man. He currently stars in the Australian drama seriesThe Newsreaderand has also appeared inThe Hunting,Lambs of God,Prime Suspect 1973, andThe Astronaut Wives Club. In 2019, he had a role in the action dramaWaiting for the Barbariansalongside Johnny Depp, Robert Pattinson, and Mark Rylance.
AMC ordered eight episodes of theInterview with the Vampireseries. As of now, the expectation is that the show will debut on AMD and AMC Plus in 2022. Rolin Jones serves as writer, executive producer, and showrunner under his overall deal with the cabler. Mark Johnson also exec produces through his overall deal with AMC Studios as well alongside Anne Rice and Christopher Rice. Alan Taylor is on board to direct the first two episodes.
Last year, it was reported thatAMC had acquired the rights to Anne Rice’s novelseriesThe Vampire ChroniclesandThe Lives of the Mayfair Witches. No other projects are currently in development beyond the eight-episodeInterview with the Vampireseries, though it seems likely we’ll see more if this new show is a hit for the network. The powers that be are likely waiting to see the response toInterview with the Vampirebefore getting too much deeper into the franchise, but we could end up seeing a lot of Sam Reid as Lestat in the coming years.
“It’s always been my dream to see the worlds of my two biggest series united under a single roof so that filmmakers could explore the expansive and interconnected universe of my vampires and witches,” said Anne Rice in a statement at the time. “That dream is now a reality, and the result is one of the most significant and thrilling deals of my long career.”
“There is no shortage of content in today’s competitive environment, but proven IP that has captivated millions of fans around the world is something very special and rare, and that is what Anne Rice has created,” added Sarah Barnett, president of AMC Networks Entertainment Group and AMC Studios. “These remarkable stories and characters are massive in their appeal and we are privileged to take over stewardship of theselegendary worksand collaborate with a talent like Rolin Jones to find ways for new generations of fans to experience these worlds.”
Interview with the Vampireis expected to arrive in 2022. It’s unclear when filming will begin.This news comes to us fromVariety.
