‘Interview With the Vampire’ Season 3: Showrunner Teases Lestat’s Double Album

Season 3 of AMC’s “Interview With the Vampire” will delve into “The Vampire Lestat,” the second book in Anne Rice’s “Vampire Chronicles” series. This novel, published in 1985, features Lestat becoming a world-famous rock star. However, adapting this to the 2020s presents unique challenges, especially considering the drastic changes in the musical landscape since the 1980s.

Fans of both the series and the books have been buzzing about how Lestat’s music character will be modernized. At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, TheWrap got the chance to discuss this with “Interview With the Vampire” showrunner Rolin Jones and the stars Sam Reid (Lestat), Assad Zaman (Armand), and Delainey Hayles (Claudia) aboard the IMDBoat.

Jones mentioned, “We’re going to be very, very coy here. Imagine Lestat with an iPad, going through the last 80 years of music. He’s not just a man of 2026; he’s a man of the last 300 years with exquisite taste. I think he knows how to deliver it.”

Reid added, “Look, he’s the vampire Lestat. He’s to be revered, feared, loved, and hated. In a time of extreme discourse, how do you stand out? Lestat is capable of making an impact without trying very hard.”

Jones hinted at an expansive musical imagination for the upcoming season. He suggested that fans could expect a lot more music in Season 3 without revealing any spoilers. “I think there’s probably secretly, in our hearts, the attempt to make an absolutely incredible double album that stands with everybody,” Jones hinted.

We also discussed with Hayles about her portrayal of Claudia, a centuries-old vampire turned at the age of 14. This character battles with being eternally trapped in a child’s form and struggles to control her nature. Despite her tragic circumstances, Claudia is depicted as a terrifying monster, a role Hayles delivers with powerful vulnerability.

Hayles explained, “I just felt a lot of empathy for her. She doesn’t entirely know who she is. She doesn’t know this world that she’s been forced into. She likes it, but it’s been thrust upon her. Empathy was the thing I wanted to explore. Her circumstances are so hard, she’s angry all the time, but she’s also extremely vulnerable, and I wanted to show that.”

Zaman shared his insights about his character, Armand, a 500-year-old vampire who often behaves like an angry teenager. When asked if his character is essentially a child pretending to be an adult, Zaman revealed, “That’s ultimately what we were going for. Living as an actor for 10 years felt like that, pretending to know what I’m doing. We all sort of trudge along and pretend the role until it fits us. That process was reflected in portraying Armand.”

We learned that much of Season 2’s shooting involved Zaman trying to embody a character who seems confident but is filled with inner turmoil, harmonizing with his personal experiences.

Season 3 promises to bring an updated, impactful musical presence through Lestat and explore deep emotional territories with its characters. Fans can eagerly anticipate a blend of timelessness and modernity in Lestat’s musical journey, along with intricate character developments.

Source: TheWrap