‘Interview With the Vampire’ Director Neil Jordan on the ‘Difficult’ Production, Sequel Plans and Wanting to Change the Ending

Neil Jordan, the director of the 1994 horror film "Interview with the Vampire," recounts the challenging production process and potential sequel plans for the movie, now available in a deluxe 4K Blu-ray edition. Jordan, who had recently enjoyed the success of his Oscar-winning "The Crying Game," was approached by David Geffen, a film producer, to adapt Anne Rice's novel. After reading the script and making his own adjustments, Jordan felt he could bring the film closer to the original spirit of Rice's book.

One notable change Jordan made was altering Louis's emotional response to Lestat when they first meet, shifting his mourning for a dead brother to a mourning for a deceased wife. Jordan explained that this change was intended to keep the character's homoerotic longing, which had been a source of controversy in earlier versions. Despite the film's high budget of around $60 million, Jordan credits the success of Francis Ford Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula" for allowing them to take artistic risks.

The casting process for the film was not without its challenges. While Jordan had some involvement in casting, it was ultimately David Geffen who reached out to Tom Cruise for the role of Lestat. Jordan was still involved in the casting process and met with Cruise, who he believed could embody the character's terror and chilling reality. Other actors were also considered, but Cruise ultimately stood out.

The film also featured Antonio Banderas as Armand, the leader of a gang of Parisian vampires, and Stephen Rea as Santiago, who runs a theater dedicated to vampire stage performances. Jordan had the opportunity to create a big studio movie with minimal interference, which he found rewarding.