Jacob Anderson Couldn’t Wait to Play Lestat’s Version of Louis

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Spoilers follow for The Vampire Lestat’s second episode “Toledo,” which premiered on AMC on June 14. 

The new season of the show, now called The Vampire Lestat, offers a very different take on Louis du Pointe de Lac (Jacob Anderson) as seen through the eyes of his former lover, Lestat (Sam Reid). While viewers previously knew Louis as a quiet, thoughtful vampire burdened by guilt over his long history with Lestat, this season portrays him as confident and calculating. In fact, according to Anderson, Louis’s way of speaking is now much more similar to Lestat’s than it used to be – almost as if he’s become the very thing he once opposed.

In the second episode, titled “Toledo,” Louis intentionally provokes a showdown with Lestat, revealing that he owns the hotel Lestat destroyed during the fight with the Fang Gang in the season’s first episode, “Detroit.” He also secretly bought 45% of the profits from Lestat’s tour merchandise. Adding to the complexity, Louis is having an affair with his attractive lawyer, Lemuel (Moses Sumney), who dislikes Lestat’s music, which Louis sees as a desperate plea for attention. Louis arranges a meeting in a run-down conference room – an “exclusive fan experience” he purchased – to further embarrass Lestat, who is still upset by the truths revealed in Louis’s autobiography. The plan succeeds in making Lestat feel foolish.

Since Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat, the book inspiring season three of Vampire Chronicles, doesn’t feature Louis prominently, creator Rolin Jones and co-writer Hannah Moscovitch had to create new storylines for him using details from later novels or entirely original ideas. Actor Jacob Anderson is hesitant to reveal much about these developments. He recalls disagreeing with Jones over a specific plot point, questioning its purpose. While he can’t share specifics, Anderson hints that the season explores how Louis is remembered and seen by others. Over the remaining five episodes, viewers will see how perceptions of him shift and evolve.

This season focuses on the story from Lestat’s point of view, rather than Louis’. I was really interested in how the scripts for season three turned out. Rolin and I have been discussing this shift since we began filming the first season. A lot of what Sam established in season one directly impacts this new direction. One thing I particularly love about The Vampire Chronicles is the dramatic change in tone when you start reading The Vampire Lestat after finishing Interview with the Vampire – it’s a really surprising and thrilling experience.

I was surprised when I started reading the scripts for season three. The focus shifted from Louis’s personal journey to how Lestat perceived him. For example, Louis speaks much more casually this season compared to the first two. In the earlier seasons, he sounded very formal and proper, like he’d memorized the dictionary. But this season, he sounds almost like he spends time online. I don’t want to criticize Lestat, but Louis’s way of speaking this season is actually more similar to Lestat’s than it is to how Louis usually talks. (Laughs)

You’ve hit the nail on the head with that description. I was really focused on restoring Louis’s original accent by the end of season two. I realized the interviews were a deliberate performance, something he’d been doing for decades. It was exciting to think about how I needed to approach the character differently, as seen through Lestat’s perspective. That’s what I enjoy most as an actor, and I think this season features one of the best portrayals of Louis we’ve ever seen.

The second season concluded with a dramatic and violent showdown where Louis sought revenge for Claudia’s death, destroying the vampire coven responsible. This season will also feature action-packed scenes with Louis. These moments reveal a side of him we haven’t fully seen before. While Louis has been physically aggressive in the past, it’s always been a response to someone else’s actions – like when Lestat harmed Claudia. The attack on the Théâtre des Vampires was fueled by pure revenge and anger. This season, his quest for revenge feels different. Interestingly, when recounting events from Lestat’s perspective, Louis seems to enjoy the violence, but that feeling doesn’t last long.

Rolin and Hannah both made it clear that the show was focused on romance during its first two seasons and continues to be in season three. When considering Louis, do you see him as a romantic lead? I absolutely do. He’s a bit of an anti-hero, but his story is really about figuring out who he is, experiencing love, being afraid of love, and then dealing with loss. Those three themes – identity, love, and grief – are at the core of his character.

The trailer’s release sparked a huge reaction from fans when they saw Louis and Lestat arguing. Can you describe your experience reading that scene and then acting it out?

It feels like their way of connecting, doesn’t it? They build each other up into this intense state before they can calm down. (Laughs) That scene honestly startled me – it really did! I initially loved reading it; I was rooting for Louis to stand up for himself and not let Lestat take responsibility for everything. But then, like with their dynamic in general, Louis can only admit his own faults for so long before he starts shifting the blame back onto Lestat, saying something along the lines of ‘You didn’t have to push me that far!’

While filming that scene, really getting into the role of Louis, I understood it would only work if he was smiling throughout. He’s actively enjoying Lestat’s discomfort. Looking at the setting, it’s clear Louis deliberately chose that location – he’s wealthy and could have easily arranged a more comfortable meeting. He could have even warned Lestat and introduced his lawyer, offering a reasonable solution. Instead, he intentionally picked the most unpleasant place possible. He wanted to meet in a stuffy hotel conference room, creating obvious sexual tension with someone Lestat believed was just a lawyer, all while maintaining a smug smile. It’s a pointed display of, ‘You could have just called me, you didn’t need to cause a scene, and I was trying to be thoughtful.’ It’s fantastic ‘we’re breaking up’ behavior, and I really enjoyed playing that version of Louis – that was the first scene I filmed.

There are many things that make this show great, but a huge part of its success is the connection between Louis and Lestat. After three seasons, how do you and Sam Reid continue to create such believable chemistry? It’s like asking how you keep a marriage strong – or exciting! [Laughs]

That’s the big question after six years! The reality is pretty simple: Sam and I are always brainstorming ideas for Louis and Lestat’s future storylines. We occasionally share them, but Hannah and Rolin usually come up with even better concepts. When we read their scripts, we’re often surprised, which sparks a lot of discussion. From the beginning, we’ve approached the show believing that it’s fundamentally about the incredibly complex – and often destructive – relationship between Louis and Lestat, and how everything else revolves around it. So, figuring out how to bring them together, then pull them apart, is always an interesting challenge. They can’t really have a stable relationship for very long, and honestly, I’m not sure anyone would even want to see that.

Later in the episode, after their fight, there’s a striking scene where Louis attends Lestat’s concert. Lestat dramatically floats down to him in the audience and pointedly drops a copy of ‘Interview With the Vampire’ into his lap – it starts as a beautiful moment but quickly becomes a clear act of defiance. We were curious about filming that scene. There are times when Louis and Lestat realize they fundamentally misunderstand each other. Louis seems to forget just how sensitive Lestat is, something we’ve seen throughout the first two seasons. He’s always perceived Lestat as incredibly strong and unshakeable, but this is the moment he understands that his actions have really hurt Lestat’s feelings and damaged his ego.

I realize I shouldn’t criticize Louis. When we’re filming, I feel really supportive and have plenty of energy for him, but afterwards, when we discuss the show, I end up thinking he’s terrible. I really do love him, but he can be incredibly difficult. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to be friends with him or have any kind of relationship with him.

It’s funny, all the characters in the show are so flawed, you end up both disliking and fiercely protecting them. That’s what it’s like to watch it. And the fact that the most decent character is someone who casually commits serial murder – like Claudia – really highlights how messed up everyone is.

Honestly, seeing Sam perform one of Lestat’s songs for the first time was incredible. It’s amazing to think he was doing that so many times a day! But I wasn’t entirely surprised, you know? I’d been hearing him sing beautifully for five years already. He just has this incredible charisma and stage presence – it felt inevitable he’d absolutely kill it. And because I’m a big fan of the books, watching him up there felt… well, like I was actually at a Lestat concert. It sounds ridiculous when I say it out loud, but that’s exactly how it felt!

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2026-06-17 00:57