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2 • October 2 - 8, 2022 Entertainment Now By Dana Simpson TV Media W hile vampires, true to their nature, never re- ally died off in popu- lar culture, TV and film trends as of late point to somewhat of a resurgence of the genre. Though this can perhaps be linked to feelings of uncertainty and viral infection amid the pan- demic, AMC's newest series was in the works long before the COV- ID-19 outbreak of 2020. Based on Anne Rice's 1976 novel of the same name, the eight-episode series "Interview With the Vampire" makes its television debut Sunday, Oct. 2, on AMC and AMC+. The first instalment in Rice's Vampire Chronicles book series, "Interview with the Vampire," perhaps best known for its 1994 film adaptation starring Brad Pitt ("Fight Club," 1999), Tom Cruise ("Top Gun," 1986) and Kirsten Dunst ("Marie Antoinette," 2006), follows a misfit family of vampires living largely in New Orleans. The plot is driven forward by the titular interview, conducted by a journalist (Christian Slater, "Mr. Robot" in the film) and chroni- cling the details of Louis' (Pitt in the film) second life, from the moments just before he became a vampire up to the present day. While AMC's new series seems to hold rather true to both the book and the film, "present day" in the TV version will be 2022 (not the '70s or '90s of other versions) and thus is subject to weave new, more modern elements in amid the plot. In this iteration, Slater's role as journalist Daniel Molloy is taken on by Eric Bogosian, who lends the same fast-talking, no- nonsense attitude to his vocation as he does to his character, politi- cian Gil Eavis, in the HBO super hit "Succession." The leading roles, meanwhile, are filled in the AMC series by a couple of familiar faces: one from "Game of Thrones" and the other from "The Astronaut Wives Club." Jacob Anderson, who played Grey Worm in HBO's George R.R. Martin fantasy series, takes on the role of distressed vampire Louis, while Sam Reid, best known for his role as John Glenn in ABC's 2015 historical space drama, as- sumes the role of Louis' sire Lestat (played by Cruise in the film). The series follows the same plot as the film, but given its more drawn-out structure, allows for a more detailed exploration of Louis' life as laid out in the novel. One of these expansions is the inclusion of Louis' younger sister, Grace (played by relative newcomer Kalyne Coleman, "Dog Bite," 2021). Described as a calm and commanding presence, Grace has the strength to support her brother through his tumultu- ous new existence. Because, as fans of either existing iteration will already know, Louis is tormented by the insatiable bloodlust of his kind. Miserable after the death of his wife and young son, human Louis is stalked by an unpredict- able creature of the night. When Louis begins to feel as though he cannot go on living, his night stalker, Lestat, offers him a choice: either die and be rid of his torment or drink Lestat's blood and be turned into a vam- pire so he may go on living in another form. Eventually choosing the latter, Louis is soon forced to confront the nuances of his condition. For a while, he spends time feeding on small creatures — unable to bring himself to commit murder — until he finally gives in and drains a young girl who has just lost her mother and is bearing familiar grief. Claudia, the young girl in ques- tion (played by Dunst in the film), is portrayed by relative newcomer Bailey Bass in the series. Cover Story Bailey Bass in "Interview with the Vampire" TV 'With the Vampire': Anne Rice classic makes its way to AMC Ready Rental 3 x 4 Hayley Siefert 3 x 2 Letters & Numbers Sudoku Fill in the grid so that every row,every column, and every 4x4 box contains the digits 1 through 9 AND the letters A-F. Solution on page 12. Advertise Your Business In Call Advertising at 217-477-5105

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