The vampire Lestat has officially entered his rockstar era, and Comic-Con couldn’t contain the screams.
AMC+’s “Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire” stormed into Ballroom 20 with an electrifying behind-the-scenes teaser that showcased Sam Reid’s Lestat in full musical glory—leather pants, stage lights, and all the gothic glamour fans have been craving.
The panel delivered everything devoted followers hoped for: exclusive footage, major casting announcements, and enough bloodshed to satisfy the most demanding immortal.
Five New Players Enter the Immortal Game
The series is expanding its supernatural ensemble with five compelling new cast members, each bringing their own dark energy to Season 3:
- Jennifer Ehle (“Lioness”) steps into the role of Gabriella, promising to bring her acclaimed dramatic prowess to the vampire chronicles
- Ella Ballentine (“Black Conflux”) takes on Baby Jenks, a character sure to add youthful chaos to the immortal mix
- Jeanine Serralles (“Apples Never Fall”) joins as Christine Claire
- Christopher Heyerdahl (“Under the Banner of Heaven”) embodies the ancient and powerful Marius
- Damien Atkins (“Slings & Arrows”) portrays Magnus, a name that should send chills down any Rice fan’s spine
Fan favorites Delainey Hayles and Assad Zaman are also confirmed to return, ensuring continuity with the beloved characters who’ve already captured viewers’ hearts.
Exclusive Footage Teases Season 3’s Dark Delights
The three-minute footage preview offered tantalizing glimpses into the new season’s conflicts. A tense confrontation between Louis and Daniel centers on the now-published book that started it all, while a boardroom showdown between Louis and Lestat promises the kind of immortal power plays that make this series essential viewing.
And yes, there was plenty of blood—because what would a vampire show be without it?
The Talamasca Connection Deepens
The panel also shed new light on the upcoming spinoff “Anne Rice’s Talamasca,” set to premiere October 26. In a surprise reveal that sent the ballroom into a frenzy, Eric Bogosian announced he’ll reprise his role as investigative journalist Daniel Molloy in the new series.
“Daniel has dealt with the Talamasca before,” Bogosian explained to the screaming crowd. “The Talamasca has been living on the edges of Daniel Molloy’s consciousness, and now he’s found out that the Talamasca is pulling him deeper into their world.”
The crossover potential has fans already theorizing about how these interconnected stories will weave together across Rice’s expansive supernatural universe.
Louis Isn’t Going Anywhere
Addressing fan concerns about Season 3’s shift toward Lestat’s perspective, Jacob Anderson offered reassurance with a sly smile: “I can say that Louis is not hugely pleased with the book’s existence, if that is a good tease. I’m here! I’m here.”
Showrunner Rolin Jones was even more direct: “No one should worry at all. There’s way more Louis in our show than there is in the book.”
It’s exactly the kind of adaptation freedom that has made this series such a critical and fan favorite—staying true to Rice’s spirit while carving its own bloody path.
Sam Reid’s Musical Metamorphosis
Perhaps the most intriguing revelation came from Reid himself, who learned Lestat’s rockstar songs before even seeing Season 3’s scripts. The challenge of merging composer Daniel Hart’s musical vision with Jones’s storytelling proved both demanding and rewarding.
“It was deeply satisfying actually, because the songs are incredible pieces alone, but there’s also a show that we shoot, and it’s got story,” Reid explained. “There are scenes that exist within the performances, within the actual songs themselves. Layering Rolin’s work on top of Daniel Hart’s work is quite challenging. They’re very different, but they both have a singular vision. Sometimes I feel like I get caught up in the middle of the whirlwind of the two of them, but I think that works perfectly for Lestat. He’s all chaos, all the time.”
The Immortal Appeal Continues
The Comic-Con presentation proved that “Interview With the Vampire” has successfully captured what made Rice’s novels so enduringly popular: the perfect blend of gothic romance, supernatural intrigue, and deeply human (or inhuman) emotional complexity.
With Season 3 promising rockstar theatrics, expanded mythology, and the same exquisite character work that has defined the series, fans have every reason to believe the best is yet to come. After all, when you’re immortal, you have plenty of time to perfect your craft.
The vampire chronicles continue to prove that some stories, like their undead protagonists, refuse to stay buried.
