A few people have requested I write about the Anne Rice vampires in here. So far, though, only one of her books has made it to the screen: Interview with the Vampire.But I'll write about that movie another time. What I thought would be of more interest right now is the upcoming book-turned-movie of Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned.
If you know very little about the movie, here are a few tidbits of information.
First of all, Anne Rice has nothing to do with the movie, other than contributing the characters and plot that she created. For Interview,she had a say in the script and the production as well (hence the Cruise/Pitt casting cafuffle that ensued), but Queenhas been taken on exclusively by Warner Brothers, so Rice doesn't have a say in what happens. The script was written by John Abbott and Michael Petroni, and according to TNMC Movies, we should expect "some filmic licence and adapatation, if you know what I mean."
And, anyway, we won't see Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt in this film. Actor Stuart Townsend (Shooting Fish, Wonderland, Almost Adam)plays Lestat de Lioncourt, and there is no Louis de Pointe du Lac.
The basic plot of the movie is that Lestat becomes a rock star. Akasha, who is the mother of all vampires, has been asleep for hundreds of years, but is awakened by Lestat's music., and she now wishes to dominate the world.
Playing Akasha is actress Aaliyah (Romeo Must Die). And rounding out the cast are Lina Olin (Chocolat, Polish Wedding, The Unbearable Lightness of Being)as Maharet, Marguerite Moreaus (The Mighty Ducks, Free Willy 2) as Jesse, Vincent Perez (The Crow: City of Angels), as Marius, (Pitch Black, and "Farscape") as Pandora, Matthew Newton (My Mother Frank) as Armand, and Paul McGann (Fairy Tale: A True Story)as David Talbot.
The film has a different director from Interview with the Vampire.Michael Rymer takes the helm this time, rather than Neil Jordan.
Filming began in September 2000 in Australia. Apparently, there was a great deal of concern over the timing of the movie, because Rice had stipulated that if the movie hadn't begun shooting before the end of 2000, the film rights for the book would revert back to her. Needless to say, collective butt got into gear and everything went ahead. In addition to Australia, the movie will also be filmed in Death Valley, California.
The Queen of the Damnedis expected in theatres in time for Halloween 2001. I'll update on the production of the film every so often. In the meanwhile, you can also check out my links, which include sites with Queen of the Damned and other Anne Rice information.
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Anna Filippone's Vampire Movies topic, please visit the Discussions page.