Queen of the Damned

A supernatural adventure, this adaptation of Anne Rice's best-selling novel continues the saga of legendary vampire Lestat. Vincent has the role of Marius, an ancient vampire who "fathered" Lestat, initiating him into vampirism.

Vincent as Marius

The story begins when 300-year old Lestat is awakened from his grave in New Orleans by the sound of an electric guitar. This leads him to find the band, who he promises to make rich and famous. He then becomes a rock star and plans a concert in California's Death Valley on Halloween night. It's long been a code among vampires that they were to keep their existence secret from mortals but Lestat's hunger for fame has now endangered that. This wanton violation of vampire law angers all the remaining ancient vampires including Akasha, Queen of the Damned, who soon escapes her confines to confront Lestat. Akasha, mother of all vampires, now looks to reshape the world in her own twisted image. Marius and all the other ancient vampires help in the battle against her. Interwoven into the plot is also a love story between Lestat and Jesse Reeves, a young occult researcher from London.

Production Notes:
Dark Horizons, 9/25/00: "Vincent Perez has arrived in Melbourne to take on the role of 'Marius' in the upcoming Queen of the Damned project, a role which Aussie actor Hugo Weaving (The Matrix) was originally offered but passed on."

Anne Rice: "It is October 2, 2000 and I have news about Queen of the Damned. The movie has begun. They began principal photography today in Australia... Marius is played by Vincent Perez... I have seen him in a wonderful movie called Queen Margot. He was absolutely terrific. I think he will make a very interesting Marius..."

Distributed by Warner Bros. and produced by Village Roadshow Pictures, the film's premiere will be held in Los Angeles. Though all primary shooting is presently taking place in Melbourne, Australia, the movie is actually set in LA. This $30 million-budgeted film has a shooting schedule that runs through mid-December. The rock band Korn will be providing several tracks of music, which will be gothic and atmospheric rather than heavy metal.

Film Poster

From Fangoria Magazine

Production Photos

CAST

Stuart Townsend...............................Lestat
Aaliyah Haughton.............Queen Akasha
Vincent Perez....................................Marius
Lena Olin.........................................Maharet
Marguerite Moreau..............Jesse Reeves
Claudia Black..................................Pandora

CREDITS

Directed by.........................Michael Rymer
Screenplay by....................... Scott Abbott and Michael Petroni
Based on the novel by Anne Rice
Cinematography by.....................Ian Baker
Original music by.........Jonathan H. Davis and Richard Gibbs

Release date: February 22, 2002

Official web site

Warner Bros. first publicity photo
of Marius leaning over Lestat