Heading into the weekend Bloody Disgusting hit you with the monster news that Robert Downey Jr. was in talks to play Lestat Du Lioncort in Universal’s reboot of Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles. Before we dive into official word from Rice, we learned over the weekend exclusively that the plan is to first adapt The Vampire Lestat, the second novel in the adult vampire franchise. Now, beyond the break you can read what Rice had to say about our breaking news.

After reading our news here on Bloody Disgusting, website BSC got in touch with author Anne Rice who talked a bit about the possibility of Downey Jr. in the role and addresses those complaining that Downey Jr. is too old (’cause he’s not).

“I’m delighted to comment. First off, I cannot confirm or deny the rumor. I have not received official word as to the truth of it yet,” she tells the site, although Bloody Disgusting can in fact confirm the validity of our story.

“But I can say without hesitation that I love Robert Downey Jr. and I think he would make a fabulous Vampire Lestat. He is a major actor, a powerhouse of talent and personality, and he evinces an irrepressible and seductive charm. He would bring great energy and skill to the role. I would love to see this happen. I’ve loved Robert Downey Jr. ever since I saw him in Restoration years ago, and I thought he was magical and powerful in Iron Man.—So I hope the rumors are true.—I’ve posted on my Facebook “fan” page saying pretty much the same thing.

“Some are saying he is too old to play the part,” she continues. “This is absolutely not true. He is quite youthful. Besides, Lestat is a man when he is made into a vampire. A twenty year old man in the 18^th 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.—I’m thrilled at the prospect that this rumor might be true.

The original from BSC also has this statement from Mrs. Rice about why none of her other books were made into movies since Queen of the Damned:

The rights were controlled by one studio for a very long time; and though there was constant interest, that one studio controlled whether or not something got made. The rights are no longer with that studio. And my agents are working diligently on the new possibilities. —– I have often wondered why so few movies have been made from my work. I think the problem lies in the fact that I wrote rather long series of books. If a studio buys one of a series, that studio wants to tie up the whole series. It is a built in problem. — I can’t complain. Had there been more movies, maybe I wouldn’t have written so many books. And I loved writing the books. I hope now that the series can really take off, with one high quality film after another.

• Marius de Romanus: Vampire Chronicles, The

We’ve been scrambling all week to confirm the following report, especially since it came from a very reliable source and is insanely logical considering the popularity of vampires these days. I guess something good has come from the success of Twilight as Bloody Disgusting has learned exclusively that Universal Pictures is looking to restart Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles, which tells the tale of the vampire Lestat Du Lioncort (through his narration), a nobleman-turned-vampire in the late 18^th century. No word yet on how they plan on unrolling this franchise, but we did find out who they are talking with to replace Tom Cruise and Stuart Townsend. Read on for the skinny.

We have confirmed this afternoon that ROBERT DOWNEY JR. is in close talks to play the vampire Lestat in Universal Pictures’ The Vampire Chronicles, a newly rebooted franchise based on Anne Rice’s popular novels.

Lestat appears as a major character in both motion picture adaptations of The Vampire Chronicles novels. In Neil Jordan’s 1994 film adaptation of Interview with the Vampire, he is portrayed by Tom Cruise. In the 2002 film adaptation of Queen of the Damned, he is played by Stuart Townsend.

The Vampire Chronicles is a series of novels by Anne Rice that revolves around the fictional character Lestat de Lioncourt, a French nobleman made into a vampire in the 18^th century.

Now… don’t run out and plan the party yet, guys. Until there is official word, all we can call something is ‘rumor.’ Right now, this is nothing more than a rumor.

But Robert Downey Jr.?

Now, I have been waiting forever for Blood & Gold to be the theme… for obvious reasons. I believe this website is enough statement as to what those reasons are. And I LOVE, love, love the Sookie Stackhouse books and True Blood. But, I am sort of ‘humphed’ that the two will be combined because I feel it mitigates both series. Most of all, it takes attention away from the Marius theme! It is disappointing because I have been salivating over this for a while.

Ah well.

I am going to buy my ticket as soon as some of my sponsors put some money into my paypal account. If you would like to purchase your tickets, go here.

And no, I won’t be in any costume or ball gown.

• Marius de Romanus: Vampire Chronicles, the

So, we have some new media. As you know, I don’t directly hos media pages on this site for the sake of safety. I have a community called Burnt Offerings that hosts all of the media for all of my sites.

First off, I fixed the Lestat Musical songs since they have been dead for quite a while. Also pertaining to the musical, I added the sheet music.

Second, the books! There is a new page to download audiobooks. All I have so far is Blood and Gold, but I swear I will get the others here soon. I also have a page to download ebooks.
- Marius de Romanus: Vampire Chronicles, the

Obviously you have good intentions here, and I think you are right that people do not need an author’s consent to write an unofficial guide to the work. But I would like to say this: there is a really unkind tone to your post, and I wonder why you and others write this sort of unkind letter to authors. Do you think we don’t have feelings? Do you think we don’t read what you say? Do you think we are not entitled to common courtesy?—I urge you in future to realize that writers are human beings with feelings like everyone else. The rampant viciousness on the internet is hurtful to to me even when it’s not aimed at me. I feel that we can use the internet constructively with manners. It is a magnificent means of communication, but we don’t have to attack people to make it work.—Thank you for reading this and I wish you well, Anne Rice.

In response, the webmaster writes an entire post to Anne Rice regarding her few line comment.

I don’t know, but there might be a little bitterness derived from an article posted by Dawn called Saving Lestat after the whole ‘Anne Rice might be writing another Vampire Chronicle’ excitement (which she is not, so don’t clutch your chest in happiness).

And look! other people have opinions!

Just keeping all of you updated on the latest Anne Rice news and wank. How come Anne Rice can never come and comment on one of MY blogs? Or, hell, even here? A site dedicated to the adoration of one of her characters. Let’s focus on the good and not the bad! Not those who criticize but… oh hell, those who do but mean nothing but love in their words.

Oh Anne Rice, I AM most sincerely and adoringly a devoted fan. <3

And, as a side website note, I cleaned the virus from the gallery.

• Marius de Romanus: Vampire Chronicles, the

FROM ANNE: THERE WILL BE NO CHRISTIAN VAMPIRE NOVEL FROM ME.

In spite of a flood of emails askng for a Christian Lestat novel (a novel in which Lestat is redeemed), and my own comment about this in the press, I am completely putting aside this project. After prayer, meditation, and much pondering, I do not think such a novel is possible. My present focus has to be on my novels about the life of Jesus Christ and I do not want to revisit the realm of my earlier books. I thank all of you who have written to me on this, both pro and con. You have helped me to think out the question. I can assure you; as things stand now there will be no Christian Lestat novel.

Let me tell you, I love her books so, so much. But, as a person, Mrs. Rice disappoints me. Yet, I am a little happy that there will be no book… for a number of reasons…
1.) Marius wouldn’t be in it anyway, so it’s not like I would be all that inclined to read it, anyway.
2.) It would probably suck. It would have probably been an over Christianized novel that removes Lestat from the old and typical suffering we’ve known to come and love, the suffering of one looking for eternal answers.

So, whatever.

And if you haven’t read already, Mrs. Rice wrote a piece for On Faith called My Trust in My Lord.
- Marius de Romanus: Vampire Chronicles, the

With a twist, perhaps?

According to Mrs. Rice, this novel will have a particularly religious theme. No more than the other Chronicles, right? Since any reader of the Chronicles knows full well that God, the Devil, human nature, and how evil and good are defined are regular themes and topics in almost all of the books.

We can only imagine how this one will end. What will Lestat leave us with? Final words for comfort? A sense that the Chronicles has come to a full close, something that Blood Canticle failed to do? Or will Mrs. Rice use Lestat as a medium for her own opinions and voice? Will all of the unsatisfied readers be put to shame by Mrs. Rice through Lestat.

Oh, I hope not. I want to feel satisfied. I desperately want to feel like it’s over and complete without that sense that something is not right. Blood and Gold was by far the best novel ever written (you may beg to differ, of course), but I was not happy with the way that the Chronicles ended. In addition to this new book, I and many other fans would love if Mrs. Rice began to write more of the personal biographies of her characters much in the way of Pandora, Vittorio, Armand, and Marius.

I suppose we’ll just have to see where Mrs. Rice and Lestat take us now.

And a BIG thank you to Alyson for the email with the link to this article.

• Marius de Romanus (Vampire Chronicles, the)

Right now, I am going to make a products page and edit the join fields to add in some new things.
- Anne Rice