How Is 'The Vampire Lestat' Connected To 'Interview With The Vampire'?
AMC’s Immortal Universe is expanding with the release of The Vampire Lestat (2026). The series comes two years after the conclusion of Interview with the Vampire (2022), an adaptation of Anne Rice’s gothic novel of the same name. Across two seasons of Interview with the Vampire, vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) shares his life story with journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). He tells of his 100+ year history, which largely revolves around his complicated and passionate relationship with the flamboyant, free-spirited vampire Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid).
Interview with the Vampire effectively adapts Rice’s novel, remaining true to its spirit while modernizing the work and more boldly probing its LGBTQ+ subtext. From its gothic aesthetics to its nuanced exploration of race, sexuality, and love, Interview with the Vampire left an impression on its dedicated fanbase. Now, with The Vampire Lestat on the horizon, fans can use our guide to find out how it connects to Interview with the Vampire and further establishes a shared universe.
‘The Vampire Lestat’ Is An ‘Interview With The Vampire’ Rebrand
The Vampire Lestat and Interview with the Vampire are more intertwined than you may think. In fact, AMC has marketed The Vampire Lestat as Season 3 of Interview with the Vampire. Essentially, Interview with the Vampire is getting a rebrand, receiving a new title that reflects a shift in the storyline and focus. While Interview with the Vampire was primarily based on Rice’s novel of the same name, The Vampire Lestat will be based on her 1985 sequel novel of the same name.
Both novels are part of Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles book series, which spans 13 books. If AMC decides to bring the entirety of the collection to life, we can expect similar rebrands in the show’s future. The Vampire Lestat is the first rebrand in the Immortal Universe, which also includes the Rice-inspired series Mayfair Witches (2023) and Talamasca: The Secret Order (2025).
How ‘The Vampire Lestat’ Connects To ‘Interview With The Vampire’ Storywise
While The Vampire Lestat is a rebrand of Interview with the Vampire, its plot functions mostly as a sequel to the original show. Interview with the Vampire tells Louis’s side of the story, but The Vampire Lestat will give Lestat the chance to tell his side of the story. The show takes place in the present day, which sees Lestat at the height of his musical career as he embarks on a multi-city tour. Much like Interview with the Vampire, the narrative is split between the past and present as Lestat constructs his version of the story. The show will also touch on The Great Conversion and the wider story of the impact of a growing vampire population.
Most of the cast will be familiar to fans of Interview with the Vampire. Reid and Anderson will, of course, return as Lestat and Louis. Additionally, we’ll see the return of Assad Zaman as Armand, Eric Bogosian as Daniel Molloy, and Delainey Hayles as Claudia in The Vampire Lestat.
Where And Why To Watch ‘The Vampire Lestat’
The Vampire Lestat premieres on June 7, 2026. You can stream the show exclusively on AMC+ or watch on the AMC channel. New episodes will premiere weekly on Sundays. Fans of Interview with the Vampire will want to tune in, as The Vampire Lestat expands the story. If Lestat is your favorite character, you especially won’t want to miss this new, deep dive into his life and perspective.
The Vampire Lestat marks the perfect opportunity for newcomers to catch up on Interview with the Vampire. Both shows are great for those seeking a sexy vampire story, but with a surprising amount of depth beneath the surface. Like Nosferatu (2024), Interview with the Vampire revels in sensual, provocative horror, mixing love, vampires, and death in gothic splendor. Whether you’re already a Rice fan or are looking for your next sensual vampire series, Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat are for you.
