Lestat de Lioncourt is bored of being the villain in everyone else's story. Honestly, after that brutal trial in Paris and the messy, tear-soaked reunion in New Orleans that capped off the second season, the brat prince is finally grabbing the microphone. AMC officially greenlit Interview with the Vampire Season 3, and if you’ve read Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat, you know exactly where this is going. We are leaving the dusty journals of Louis de Pointe du Lac behind. It's time for leather, stadium lights, and a lot of eyeliner.
The show has already reinvented the gothic horror genre for a new generation. It’s queer, it’s violent, and it’s surprisingly funny. Showrunner Rolin Jones isn’t just adapting a book; he’s remixing a mythos. While the first two seasons leaned heavily into the toxic, obsessive romance between Louis and Lestat, the new season of Interview with the Vampire is shifting the lens entirely. We are getting the "autobiography" of Lestat. This isn't just a sequel. It's a total tonal pivot.
The Rockstar Reveal and the Queen of the Damned
The teaser dropped at San Diego Comic-Con, and it was everything fans wanted. Sam Reid, looking predictably divine in a massive fur coat and smeared makeup, snacked on a bag of Cheetos while being interviewed by a very stressed-out Daniel Molloy. This is the new reality. Lestat is a global rockstar. He’s outed the vampire world to the mortals, and he’s doing it through glam rock.
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Expect the music to be a massive part of the experience. Daniel Hart, the composer who made the first two seasons sound like a tragic opera, is now tasked with writing actual pop hits for a vampire. It’s a huge swing. If the songs don't work, the season doesn't work. But based on the snippet of "Long Face" we heard in the teaser, they’re leaning into a David Bowie-meets-T-Rex vibe that fits Lestat’s ego perfectly.
The plot will follow the foundational beats of Rice's second and third books. We’ll likely see Lestat’s origins—his time in pre-revolutionary France, his encounter with Magnus, and his complicated relationship with his mother, Gabrielle. But the big "oh boy" moment everyone is waiting for is the awakening of Akasha. She is the mother of all vampires, the Queen of the Damned, and she doesn't exactly have a "live and let live" philosophy.
Why the shift to Lestat's perspective matters
For two seasons, we saw Lestat through the eyes of people who mostly hated him. Or, at the very least, people who were deeply traumatized by him. Louis saw him as a domestic tyrant. Claudia saw him as a roadblock to her freedom. But memory is a monster in this show. In the new season of Interview with the Vampire, we get to see if Lestat is actually the hero of his own tragedy or if he’s just as delusional as the people he criticizes.
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It’s a risky move. Louis (Jacob Anderson) is the soul of the show. Shifting him to a supporting role—or at least a secondary perspective—might feel jarring for fans who tuned in for the "Loustat" shipping. However, the writers have proven they can handle complex transitions. They’ve already hinted that the modern-day timeline will involve Daniel Molloy's new book, which has turned Lestat into a cult icon.
Casting Rumors and New Faces
While Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, and Delainey Hayles are all returning in various capacities, the big question mark is Akasha. In the 2002 film, Aaliyah left big shoes to fill. Fans are currently scouring every casting call for a hint of who will play the Queen. Whoever it is needs to possess a terrifying, ancient stillness.
There is also the matter of Marius. We caught glimpses and mentions of him, but the new season of Interview with the Vampire needs him to be a central pillar. He’s the one who kept the "Those Who Must Be Kept" (Akasha and Enkil) for centuries. His relationship with Lestat is more of a mentor-student dynamic, but since this is Interview with the Vampire, it’s obviously going to be way more complicated and homoerotic than that.
- Lestat: The center of the universe.
- Louis: Likely playing the role of the reluctant observer or the anchor to Lestat's sanity.
- Daniel Molloy: Now a fledgling vampire himself, thanks to Armand. This changes the dynamic of the interviews completely. He’s no longer a dying old man; he’s a predator with a laptop.
- Armand: Currently in the doghouse after his lies were exposed, but Assad Zaman is too good to keep off-screen for long.
Production Timelines: When do we actually get to watch?
Production kicked off in late 2024, with filming primarily happening in Prague and parts of Europe to capture the old-world flashbacks. Given the heavy post-production required for the rock concert sequences and the inevitable supernatural battles, we are looking at a mid-to-late 2025 release date. AMC likes to keep their prestige horror in the "spooky season" window, so an October premiere is a very safe bet.
Don't expect a rushed product. Rolin Jones has been vocal about the "long-form" nature of this story. He’s treated the scripts with a level of literacy that most shows ignore. He knows that the fans of the Vampire Chronicles are protective. They want the philosophy, not just the blood.
Addressing the "Rockstar" Skepticism
Some fans are worried. A vampire becoming a rockstar sounds... a bit 2000s cringe? We all remember the Nu-Metal soundtrack of the 2002 movie. But the show has built up enough goodwill to earn our trust. By setting the "modern" timeline in the actual present day, the show can play with the idea of viral fame and TikTok obsession. Lestat wouldn't just be a singer; he’d be a meme, a fashion icon, and a lightning rod for controversy.
The tension will come from the Talamasca. That secret society of paranormal observers has been lurking in the background for two seasons. In the new season of Interview with the Vampire, they will likely step into the light. If Lestat is screaming "I am a vampire" to 50,000 people in an arena, the Talamasca can't just sit back and take notes anymore.
What this means for the AMC Immortal Universe
AMC is trying to build a shared universe, including Mayfair Witches. While that show hasn't hit the same critical highs as Interview, the crossover is inevitable. In the books, the two worlds eventually bleed together. The new season of Interview with the Vampire acts as the glue. If they can successfully introduce the ancient lore of the spirits and the first vampires, it opens the door for a decade of storytelling.
It’s basically the anti-Marvel. Instead of capes, it’s velvet. Instead of saving the world, these characters are usually busy destroying their own lives. That’s the appeal. It’s messy.
Honestly, the most exciting part isn't the spectacle. It's the prospect of seeing Sam Reid finally play the Lestat from the books—the one who is arrogant, incredibly talented, and desperately lonely. Louis was the heart of the first act, but Lestat is the engine of the entire franchise.
Actionable Steps for Fans
- Read The Vampire Lestat: If you haven't, do it now. The show deviates, but the core "vibe" of the rockstar era is pulled straight from these pages.
- Watch the Talamasca Teasers: AMC is releasing shorts and Easter eggs through their "Immortal Universe" marketing. Keep an eye on Raglan James, a character hinted at in Season 2 who becomes pivotal later.
- Listen to the Season 2 Soundtrack: It sets the stage for the musical shift. "The Whole World Was Watching" is a masterclass in how this show uses sound to tell a story.
- Track the Prague Filming: Set Google Alerts for production leaks. The locations used for 18th-century France often give away which chapters of the book are being prioritized.
The wait is going to be long. You might want to rewatch the "Trial" episode just to remind yourself how high the stakes are. The new season of Interview with the Vampire isn't just a continuation—it’s a rebirth. And like Lestat says, he's ready for his close-up.