Robert Downey Jr in talks to be the vampire Lestat

You only have to look at the popularity of SFX's recent vampire-themed special to realise that the befanged ones are on the rise (from the grave) again.

The vampire sub-genre is back in a big way - probably thanks to the likes of Twilight and True Blood - and now Bloody Disgusting is reporting that Universal Pictures wants to restart Anne Rice's franchise. You know, the one that hit the screen for the first time in 1994 with Tom Cruise as Lestat. Interview With The Vampire was then followed by the forgettable Queen of the Damned in 2002 with Stuart Townsend in the role (of Lestat, not of the Queen. Obviously.)

So who do they have lined up to take on the role of Lestat this time? Word on the street is that Robert "Iron Man" Downey Jr is in talks to play the chap. Not content with being Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes, it seems the 44-year-old actor could bring yet another much-loved character from page to screen.

What do you think of this casting rumour? Are you looking forward to seeing The Vampire Chronicles back at the cinema? Tell us your thoughts. Tell us!

Thanks to JoBlo for the heads up.

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