Lestat hits the stage: what the new season means for Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe
The Immortal Universe is shifting gears. Interview with the Vampire returns this summer on AMC and AMC+ with Season 3 retitled The Vampire Lestat, a move that signals the show’s pivot to adapting Anne Rice’s second novel and reimagining its iconic antihero as a touring rock star. The decision expands the series’ scope: Lestat de Lioncourt, played by Sam Reid, leaves the parlor rooms of the past for electric arenas and the spotlight of celebrity — and the production is giving viewers an early taste of that transformation through music.
From aristocrat to arena act: Lestat’s new life on tour
In The Vampire Lestat, Lestat embraces a flamboyant, hedonistic rock-star persona while fronting a multi-city tour. The series explores how his growing fame amplifies his influence over humans and other vampires during an era marked by a phenomenon called the Great Conversion, which leads to a surge in the vampire population. Though his environment and profession change, Lestat’s aristocratic instincts and appetite for excess remain intact — only now they play out amid pyrotechnics, sold-out shows and the intoxicating power of celebrity.
The single: “Long Face” introduces Lestat’s musical voice
To coincide with the show’s new musical direction, AMC Networks and Lakeshore Records released “Long Face,” the first single credited to the Vampire Lestat artist profile. Composed and lyrically written by series composer Daniel Hart and performed by Sam Reid, the track is the opening note in a planned rollout of several singles tied to the show’s soundtrack.
“Long Face” is available now on major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
David Bowie as creative compass
The song leans into glam rock, with Hart explicitly citing David Bowie — and his Ziggy Stardust era — as a reference point for Lestat’s musical identity. Hart explained that Bowie’s ability to reinvent himself across eras made him an apt model for a centuries-old character who can inhabit any cultural moment: “There’s certainly some Ziggy Stardust in this song. But we chose Bowie not only for his glam era, but because he was a chameleon. Expect Lestat to change his musical colors throughout the season as well, as he discovers how to remain true to himself, and how to express that truth on stage every night.”
That chameleon quality is central to the show’s approach: Lestat’s music is meant not only to be period-appropriate pastiche but a dramatic device that reveals how an immortal being translates identity and power into performance.
Lestat’s in-character critique of his own collaborator
True to form, Lestat — via Reid in character — offered a sardonic take on the creative process, playfully skewering Hart’s originality and production choices in an in-character statement that channels rock-star diva energy. The jab underscores how the show uses Lestat’s persona to blur the lines between performance, ego and art.
Cast and creative team
The Vampire Lestat reunites returning cast members and introduces new faces to expand the mythos:
- Sam Reid as Lestat de Lioncourt
- Jacob Anderson
- Assad Zaman
- Eric Bogosian
- Delainey Hayles
- Jennifer Ehle
New additions include:
- Sheila Atim as Akasha, the Queen of the Damned
- Noah Reid
- Ryan Kattner
- Seamus Patterson
- Sarah Swire
Rolin Jones returns as the series creator, writer and showrunner, guiding this tonal and narrative shift as the show adapts Rice’s second novel.
What to expect next
“Long Face” is the first of several songs the series will release in the lead-up to the show’s summer premiere. Those tracks will appear under the Vampire Lestat artist profile on major digital music services, offering fans a serialized soundtrack that mirrors the character’s evolution across the season.
Expect further singles and visual releases to flesh out the in-show band’s catalog and to build buzz around Lestat’s tour, his complicated relationships, and how the celebrity spotlight reshapes vampire politics during the Great Conversion.
Where to listen and when to watch
- “Long Face” is streaming now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and other major services via the Vampire Lestat profile.
- The Vampire Lestat premieres this summer on AMC and AMC+; official premiere details and episode dates will be announced by the network.
Stay tuned for additional singles and promotional material as the series counts down to its return.