Lacey Bridges
After having to witness Tom Cruise getting the gig over Rutger Hauer (true, she championed ‘Lothos’ himself for Lestat), and later, all of Australia doing their best to sink the once vicitorious brand with “Queen of the Damned” (Matthew Newton!? Really!?), the film rights to The Vampire Chronicles novels are back safely in the hands of author Anne Rice.
Recently, Universal and Imagine Entertainment had announced plans to reboot the film series (at one stage Robert Downey Jr had been linked to the role of the neck-nibbler) but seems development sluggishness put a stop to that.
And now, as Rice announced on Facebook, she’s back in charge of Lestat’s future movements. First stop? Television.
“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!”
If Rice can stick to those guns and make something hardcore cable-worthy like “Game of Thrones” (or even “Westworld”), “The Vampire Lestat” series should be one to circle in the TV Guide in a couple of years.
