WHAT WENT WRONG Interview with the Vampire
Oct 6, 2025
Tom Cruise was excited to play Lestat, unaware that Anne Rice hated his casting. The film's journey spanned nearly 20 years, facing numerous challenges, including initial studio reluctance and casting battles. Brad Pitt's struggles on set and Kirsten Dunst's controversial scenes added drama behind the scenes. The production boasted stunning visuals and makeup, but it was Rice's eventual praise of the film that surprised everyone. Dive into this captivating tale of creative clashes and unexpected successes.
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Craft Makes The Film Enduring
- Neil Jordan's direction and the film's craft make the movie richly immersive and timeless.
- The below-the-line departments (lighting, costume, production design, VFX) work in tight harmony to elevate the story.
Rice Recentered Vampires As Protagonists
- Anne Rice reframed vampires as sympathetic protagonists with interior lives and beauty.
- That shift influenced later vampire stories and made the characters emotionally central, not just monstrous.
Rights Languished Before Geffen Bought In
- The film rights bounced from Paramount to Lorimar as studios feared the book's themes and the market for vampires waned.
- After Lorimar sold to Warner, the property landed with David Geffen, who revived the project.
