AMC’sInterview With the Vampirehas been renewed for a third season, but if you may’t wait to see what the future holds for the vampire Lestat, Paramount+ has you covered. The 2002 film adaptation ofQueen of the Damnedis coming to the streaming service next month. The second big-screen adaptation ofAnne Rice’sVampire Chroniclesseries will be available to stream starting on October 1.
After the success of 1994’s movie adaptation ofInterview With the Vampire, a sequel went into pre-production, although it soon fell into development hell. As the rights were soon on the verge of reverting to Rice, a sequel without directorNeil Jordanor starTom Cruisewas rushed into production. The resulting film was directed byMichael Rymer, who is better known for his work on TV, includingBattlestar Galactica,Hannibal, andPicnic at Hanging Rock. With Cruise not returning, the producers instead turned toThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’sStuart Townsendto play the charismatic vampire Lestat. Although it primarily adapts 1988’sThe Queen of the Damned, the third book in Rice’sVampire Chronicles, it also incorporates elements from the previous book in the series, 1985’sThe Vampire Lestat.
What Is ‘Queen of the Damned’ About?
Awakened by rock music, Lestat takes over the band that inadvertently summoned him and becomes an internationally famous rock star. He takes on the public persona of a vampire, but few believe that he truly is one - save for researcher Jesse Reeves (Marguerite Moreau,The Mighty Ducks), a member of the supernatural-monitoring secret society theOrder of the Talamasca. She and her mentor David Talbot (onetimeDoctor WhoPaul McGann) spring into action, but they’re too late, as Lestat’s music has awakened the titular queen of the damned - the ancient Egyptian queen Akasha (R&B starAaliyah, who tragically perished in a plane crash before the film’s release), the progenitor of all vampires. Soon Akasha and Lestat have formed an unholy alliance, while Jesse’s family legacy comes back to haunt her in the form of her vampiric aunt Mahret (Lena Olin,Alias). As the film was made in the early aughts, the music has a distinct nu-metal tinge to it: Lestat’s singing voice is even provided byKorn’sJonathan Davis.
The film was savaged by critics (it currently holds a 17% Rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes), largely rejected by audiences, and disowned by Rice herself. It put an end to any other adaptations of Rice’sVampire Chroniclesbefore the AMC series premiered in 2022. The show’supcoming third seasonwill be based onThe Vampire Lestat, and will adapt some of the plot points included in the film, including Lestat’s music career.
Queen of the Damnedwill beavailable to stream on Paramount+ starting October 1. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
Queen of the Damned
