The immortal world of Anne Rice’s vampires came roaring back to life at San Diego Comic-Con, where the cast and creators of Interview With the Vampire unleashed a tantalizing glimpse into the show’s third season—along with five fresh faces joining the bloody fray. The Ballroom 20 panel erupted as Sam Reid’s Lestat took center stage in a newly unveiled behind-the-scenes teaser, showcasing the vampire’s electrifying rockstar persona in all its decadent glory. Flanked by co-stars Jacob Anderson (Louis) and Eric Bogosian (Daniel Molloy), Reid offered a taste of the chaos to come, including Lestat’s dramatic musical performances—a challenge the actor described as “being caught in a whirlwind” between composer Daniel Hart’s score and showrunner Rolin Jones’ vision.
The undead family is expanding this season, with Jennifer Ehle (Lioness) joining as Gabriella, Ella Ballentine (Black Conflux) as the ill-fated Baby Jenks, and Jeanine Serralles (Apples Never Fall) as Christine Claire. Rounding out the new arrivals are Christopher Heyerdahl (Under the Banner of Heaven) as the enigmatic Marius and Damien Atkins (Slings & Arrows) as Magnus—each poised to complicate the already tangled web of vampiric alliances. But fans needn’t fear their favorites fading into the shadows: Delainey Hayles and Assad Zaman will return, with Anderson reassuring the crowd that Louis remains very much present despite the season’s increased focus on Lestat. “He’s not hugely pleased with the book’s existence,” Anderson teased, as Jones added emphatically, “There’s way more Louis in our show than in the book.”
Three minutes of footage sent the audience into a frenzy, teasing Louis and Daniel’s strained dynamic post-publication, a boardroom showdown dripping with tension (and blood), and Lestat’s signature brand of destructive charm. But the undead surprises didn’t stop there: Bogosian shocked the room by announcing his crossover into Anne Rice’s Talamasca, the upcoming spinoff premiering October 26. “The Talamasca has been pulling Daniel deeper into their world,” he explained, as screams greeted his appearance in the new teaser—a hint at the expanding Rice universe.
Between Reid’s magnetic Lestat, Anderson’s simmering Louis, and the promise of fresh blood (both literal and figurative), Season 3 is shaping up to be the show’s most ambitious yet. As the panel closed, one thing was clear: the interview isn’t over—it’s just getting good.
Interview With the Vampire returns this fall on AMC+.
The Pop Blog general news and updates, mostly from press releases and conferences.