As part of the series’ SDCC 2025 panel, AMC released an exclusive behind the scenes look at Interview with the Vampire Season 3. We also now know who’s going to be playing a few key characters from The Vampire Lestat, which is the book from Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles that Season 3 will actually focus on. In fact, if you look at the very end of the teaser, you’ll hear Sam Reid, in true Lestat fashion, ask “I think we’re going to call it The Vampire Lestat, though, aren’t we?” BOOM: Cue The Vampire Lestat title card and the reminder that AMC’s latest visit with Rice’s vampires will release on the network, as well as its streamer AMC+, in 2026. Whether or not we’re sticking with Reid’s (Lestat’s) working title — which official social media seems to indicate we will — the SDCC 2025 news is really interesting.
MORE: Here’s what we thought of last year’s Rockstar Lestat reveal.
The Vampire Lestat casting news
If you’ve been dying to know who’s playing Lestat’s mother, Gabrielle, now’s the time for you to arise, reborn in the Blood. Jennifer Ehle, whose performance as Meredith Bonner in Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 was truly excellent and full of the types of nuanced notes all of Rice’s characters deserve, has been cast in the role. But the TV adaptation is going to return the Marquise de Lioncourt to her roots: Gabrielle will actually be Gabriella. That’s not a change just to make changes. Throughout his autobiography, Lestat repeatedly mentions his mom’s Southern Italian roots. So, the showrunners are, once again, giving a nod to Rice’s longtime fans and saying “yes, we’re big fans, too.”
You can also look forward to seeing Christopher Heyerdahl play Marius. Heyerdahl is a genre TV staple and can disappear into literally any role you throw at him. (No, seriously, any role. In Sanctuary alone, he pulled off Bigfoot and Jack the Ripper.) So, the thought of him playing Marius, who is so important to everyone — from Lestat, to Armand, to Those Who Must Be Kept, and then some — is an intriguing one. If anyone can pull off a character with such a long and rich history, it has to be Heyerdahl. The other big M name in The Vampire Lestat is Magnus, who will be played by Damien Atkins. Rounding out the new additions will be Ella Ballentine as Baby Jenks and Jeanine Serralles as Christine Claire.
Of course, Lestat’s story could never be complete without Louis. Jacob Anderson will be back for Interview with the Vampire Season 3/The Vampire Lestat, and Delainey Hayles will return as Claudia. As we know, Claudia met her tragic fate at the hands of the Théâtre des Vampires coven. But since Lestat is the one doing the storytelling now, it’s time to see him touch, however briefly, on his side of her story. Oh. And speaking of the Théâtre: Yes, Assad Zaman is back as Armand. And, fittingly, so is the his fledgling Daniel (Eric Bogosian).
MORE: Go back to the very beginning. Read our interview with Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, and Bailey Bass from Interview with the Vampire Season 1.
Watch AMC’s The Vampire Lestat teaser from SDCC 2025
Just two more observations: First, let’s all appreciate Sam Reid. That’s it. Appreciate Sam Reid. What a gift to have him in this role. I’m sure I’ve said this plenty of times before, but he was seriously born to play Rice’s Brat Prince.
Second, another great nod to all things Anne Rice: In the clip, Rockstar Lestat has his violin. How completely perfect is that? For those who don’t know, very early in his book, Lestat references demanding only “superior instruments,” and the violins are last in his list. (As in, they’re the opposite of least.) Also, Rice herself wrote a book called Violin. And, at various points and across her other writing, she wrote adoringly of the instrument (and classical music in general).
One thing’s for certain: It’s going to be an exciting return to this world, this time through The Vampire Lestat’s eyes.
What excited you most about the news about The Vampire Lestat/Interview with the Vampire Season 3 from SDCC 2025? Leave us a comment!
The series comes to AMC in 2026.
