Robert Downey Jr. eyeing the role of Lestat in The Vampire Chronicles

According to BloodyDisgusting, the popularity of vampires continues to spread, with the news that Universal Pictures is looking to jump-start Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles, the story of the vampire Lestat Du Lioncort, a nobleman-turned-vampire in the late 18th century. There was no word on how they plan on unfurling franchise, but according to the report, Robert Downey Jr. is in close talks to take on the role formally played by Tom Cruise and Stuart Townsend.

That’s right, Downey Jr. is circling Universal’s The Vampire Chronicles, in the role of the vampire Lestat.

In Neil Jordan’s 1994 film adaptation Interview with the Vampire, Tom Cruise played the centuries-old bloodsucker, and in the 2002 film Queen of the Damned, he was played by Townsend.