Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire is getting a makeover for a new graphic novel version.

The story will be told from the perspective of Claudia, a 12 year old child who is transformed into a vampire by Louis, the narrator of Rice’s 1976 novel. . “I have gone all through The Vampire Chronicles writing from the point of view of different characters, so it is completely legitimate to do that,” Rice told Publisher’s Weekly. “Lestat [another vampire, played by Tom Cruise in the movie version] tells you a completely different version of events than Louis. Who do you believe?”

The graphic novel will be published by Yen Press, who have a track record with vampire adaptations, after their release of a version of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight last year. Rice is impressed with the work by newcomer Ashley Marie Witter: “They have such wonderful detail in the costumes, and in my work costumes are almost like a character,” said said. “They are part of the work, and they got that. What I look for in a movie or a book like this is the essence — baroque detail, sensuality, luxurious hair, faces that are intriguing and deep — and they got it here.”

Witter told the magazine that she “really hope[s] to capture the essence and feeling of an 18th century New Orleans,” and that she “tried to incorporate some of the historic ethnicity into their features and costumes. Over time as I became familiar with the story, the characters evolved more and more to fit their personalities.”

Interview with the Vampire will be released in 2012.

Leave a comment