The vampire Lestat is ready to sink his teeth into some new blood, only now it'll be on the small screen. Author Anne Rice has revealed on her Facebook page that she has once again regained the rights to adapt her popular book series, The Vampire Chronicles. Rather than letting it sit on the vine the way the most recent big screen reboot plans did, she is taking the step of bringing it to television as a drama series ala Game of Thrones...
"The theatrical rights to the Vampire Chronicles are once again in my hands, free and clear! I could not be more excited about this! — A television series of the highest quality is now my dream for Lestat, Louis, Armand, Marius and the entire tribe. In this the new Golden Age of television, such a series is THE way to let the entire story of the vampires unfold. — My son Christopher Rice and I will be developing a pilot script and a detailed outline for an open ended series, faithfully presenting Lestat’s story as it is told in the books, complete with the many situations that readers expect to see. We will likely begin with “The Vampire Lestat” and move on from there. —– When we sit down finally to talk to producers, we will have a fully realized vision of this project with Christopher as the executive producer at the helm. I will also be an executive producer all the way. —- Again, I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to be able to announce this. —- As many of you know, Universal Studios and Imagine Entertainment had optioned the series to develop motion pictures from it, and though we had the pleasure of working with many fine people in connection with this plan, it did not work out. It is, more than ever, abundantly clear that television is where the vampires belong. —- Over the years you all have told me how much you want to see a “Game of Thrones” style faithful rendering of this material, and how much you want for the series to remain in my control. Well, I have heard you. I have always heard you. What you want is what I want. — You, the readers, made these books a success before any movie was ever made based on them, and I will never forget that fact. —- Christopher and I will be posting many questions on the page for your input in the days to come. —– I am filled with optimism this morning about the future for my beloved Brat Prince. What better way to start a tour for the new book!"
The most popular adaptation was 1994's Interview with the Vampire which starred Tom Cruise as Lestat, plus Brad Pitt and a very young Kirsten Dunst in her breakout role. In 2002 the film Queen of the Damned was released, starring singer Aaliyah and Stuart Townsend. It combined elements from two of Rice's novels, but overall it was not a good film. Most recently Josh Boone (The Fault In Our Stars) was attached to a reboot that was already written and ready to go. Obviously that will never come to be now.
TV always seemed like the best place for Rice to take The Vampire Chronicles. The only problem is fitting in a crowded landscape of shows featuring vampires and other creatures, clearly cribbing from the groundwork she set. If it doesn't end up on subscription TV I don't see much of a point. But with her latest novel Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis: The Vampire Chronicles hitting shelves on November 29th now is a good time for this kind of announcement.
