THE VAMPIRE LESTAT SDCC 2026 Panel: Every Question and Answer (Full Transcript) Rotem Rusak | usagoldmines.com

At San Diego Comic-Con, a new seductive sound rose in Hall H. The sound of thousands of passionate fans cheering for their favorite vampires. Yes, The Vampire Lestat finally made it to SDCC’s Hall H, his biggest stage yet, and it was a very well-deserved achievement. Sadly, not all of the beautifully unwell could join The Vampire Lestat for his San Diego Comic-Con panel this year, featuring executive producer Mark Johnson, writer and executive producer Hannah Moscovitch, Jacob Anderson (Louis), Assad Zaman (Armand), Eric Bogosian (Daniel Molloy), and Sheila Atim (Akasha), and moderated by Jacqueline Coley. And so, as always, Nerdist aspires to be your (Devil’s) Minion in the room. We snagged every last question and answer from The Vampire Lestat‘s SDCC Hall H panel, and it’s our pleasure to bring you a nearly full transcript and account of what happened in that room. No need for the Odyssey of recollection here—don’t be afraid, just start the tape.

The Vampire Lestat‘s Creators on the Final Two Episodes of the Season and Lestat Learning Louis Really Loved Him

Addressing Johnson and Moscovitch, Coley began The Vampire Lestat‘s SDCC panel by discussing the intense journey of the final two episodes of the season. Coley noted, “Those last two episodes, y’all really took us to places we’ve never been before. We had severed heads and vampires in the sun. Mark, talk about those last two episodes and how you knew that was what we were going to eventually get to see on screen?”

Johnson laughed, “I didn’t know anything. I was led by Rolin Jones and Hannah Moscovitch down a road. Who takes a penultimate episode and decapitates the two leads? It’s unheard of. And yet I would love to say I saw this all coming and planned. They took me by the hand and led me down this path that became this extraordinary season.”

Coley then addressed Moscovitch, asking, “How early on in the writer’s room did y’all land on these last two episodes? Because like I said, I don’t think we could have imagined where they would’ve started with episode six and then the way episode seven ends. It’s just incredible.“

To which Moscovitch replied, “I think we knew fairly early on that we were going to do that. And we wanted episode six to reunite Louis and Lestat and for us to get to see their love again, which is at the very core of the show. And then we wanted to cut their heads off. And we wanted Lestat to have to face his own trauma and run through the different rooms and hallways of his mind until he understood that Gabriella had been abusing him and that Louis really loved him. And that felt important.”

Jacob Anderson Talks His “Severed Head” Performance in The Vampire Lestat SDCC Panel

Of course, with all this talk of severed heads, it was time to hear from the vampire whose head had been actually severed on The Vampire Lestat‘s SDCC panel. Coley asked, “Jacob. I’d love for you to talk about what you had to do filming those particular episodes. I mean, I’m guessing it’s harder to do a severed head performance, although you did it admirably, I will say.”

Anderson, insightful as always, offered a fascinating look into playing Louis de Pointe du Lac as just a decapitated head. He revealed, “It’s not the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life while acting. Because also what happens? How do you speak? How do you breathe? So it was all a lot of making things up, like Hokum science.” He laughs in affectionate recollection and adds, “I had a chat with Rolin before the season, and he was like, ‘I promise you, you’re not going to get super bloody this year.’ I was like, “Ah!” He was like, “Is there anything?” And I was like, “The sticky blood I could do without the blood sticking to my skin at the time.” And he’s like, “No, no, no, don’t worry about that.” Anderson grins, “Bet!” He exclaims to laughter from the crowd, “Here comes episode seven.”

As to how Anderson’s Louis became just a severed head, he reveals, “I was half suspended into a table, and they cut out a me-sized thing. And then I was squatting under the table, and I had this really lovely green crop top situation, which I just enjoyed.”

Release the green crop top cut, AMC!

Assad Zaman on Armands Armends and the Honesty of His Apology Tour

Coley turned to Zaman next, shifting the focus of the SDCC panel to Armand’s journey in The Vampire Lestat. “Let’s just say you started off the season on this so earnest apology tour. And then by the end, we’re like, ‘Girl, talk about machinations. Talk about schemes and just the delicious maliciousness that was Armand this season.’ I’d love for you to talk us about what the script was like when you saw the turn and how delicious was it to play?“

For Zaman, it was a fulfilling and fun journey. He answers, “Very delicious. I thought he was on a legitimate apology tour as well. It was fun. I’d always wanted to explore that side of Armand more. I guess just really go there. And I’m really grateful to Hannah and Rolin for sort of mapping it out in such an unconventional way. You could have seen a dastardly villain this season that was from the get-go, but Armand’s way is more conniving and methodical. And yeah, it was nice to sort of hold onto it and then let it go in that right moment.”

A Moment for Devil’s Minion Being Romantic ‘On and Off Screen’ (Whatever That Means!)

One day, we’ll get a full SDCC Hall panel devoted just to Devil’s Minion, but at The Vampire Lestat SDCC, we at least got a little acknowledgment. Coley noted that Zaman’s Armand had been “delivering some of the most romantic lines of the season” to Bogosian’s Daniel Molloy. And assessed that “there’s like another pair of romantic vampires that we’re now obsessed with.”

There wasn’t much discussion of the romance on the panel… But Zaman piped up to say that this pair of vampires was romantic… “On and off-screen” before dissolving into laughter with co-star Bogosian. What “on and off-screen” means, we won’t litigate here. But needless to say, Devil’s Minion offered THE viral moment from the SDCC 2026 The Vampire Lestat panel. And that’s because they are, what? The best ship ever. Let them kiss!

Mark Johnson Discusses ‘The Generosity of Fandom’ at The Vampire Lestat SDCC Panel

From there, the conversation turned to the beating heart of The Vampire Lestat, its fandom. Coley addressed Johnson, “Mark, sir, you have been doing television for a very long time, and fandom’s nothing new to you. It’s been like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, but this is a different kind of fandom. What was the most surprising thing for you about the Interview with the Vampire/The Vampire Lestat fandom?“

Johnson replied without hesitation, “I think what struck me most is their generosity. And by that I mean they said, “All right, show me what you’ve come up with.” And we came up with Rolin Jones’ interpretation of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. And they said, “This isn’t strictly speaking what the book was, but it’s in the spirit, and we like what you’re doing.” And they held us to a standard and yet had real flexibility. And I think from the beginning, from the very beginning, they had a real affection for our characters.”

Eric Bogosian on His Favorite Daniel Molloy Line in The Vampire Lestat

Speaking of characters fans have affection for, Eric Bogosian’s Daniel Molloy certainly had some scene-stealing moments in The Vampire Lestat with many a witty barb. Coley asks, “Eric, I’m curious, for you, what was your favorite line from this season? Because one of our favorite lines was the one where you were referring to Louis and Lestat as Taylor and Travis. What was your favorite scene or moment?“

Bogosian grins and comes up with a deep cut, “I think one of the things that, given how intense Sam is throughout the series, he has a terrific sense of humor, and it’s so much fun to do something with him that’s funny. And my favorite moment of the season was when he’s trying to pronounce the word Worcester, Massachusetts. And it’s “Wuster.” It’s very simple, but he cannot get the words out, and he keeps going “worchesyeeyreyfrhee.” And he’s beautiful. It was so nice to do scenes with him.

Jacob Anderson chimes in on the SDCC The Vampire Lestat panel to offer his own favorite Daniel Molloyism of the season, one which we loved a lot too. He grins, “Can we also give it up for ‘It’s your boy, Daniel Molloy’”? And Anderson’s imitation of Daniel is incredible.

Hannah Moscovitch on Writing Gabriella in The Vampire Lestat

Turning back to Moscovitch, Coley brought up The Vampire Lestat‘s new, important character, Gabriella, played by Jennifer Ehle. Coley noted, “You got the gift this year that is Gabriella being introduced to our incredible cast, played courtesy of the incomparable Jennifer Ehle. I know that you wrote for Gabriella, and that relationship is so complicated, the one between her and Lestat. I’m curious for you, what was your favorite moment between these characters? Or is there something particularly harder to write? I mean, I guess there would be in an incestuous maker/mother-son relationship.“

Moscovitch shares that both the intensity and the depth of Gabriella were essential to The Vampire Lestat this season. At the SDCC panel, she reveals about The Vampire Lestat‘s Gabriella, “Yeah, I loved writing Gabriella’s introduction into the show because she gets such an astonishing one. We trick everyone into thinking Lestat is texting with Louis. And then of course Gabriella shows up, and they make out, and we get to go out on the episode that way. But I also loved writing for her alone. There’s a scene in episode four where she’s in the past, and she talks about what she is, and she talks about how she isn’t a mother or a wife, or a woman anymore. She’s a fever that comes in the night. And that’s one of my favorite pieces of writing that we did in this season.

Jacob Anderson on Working with Sam Reid and the Connection Between Louis and Lestat

Of course, it wouldn’t be a The Vampire Lestat SDCC panel without giving a little love to Lestat himself and the core relationship between Louis and Lestat. Coley asks, “Louis had a lot this year, Jacob, and too many standout moments to count. I mean, just the teaser trailer of y’all sitting across each other arguing like an old divorced couple would over the assets was amazing. We hadn’t even gotten a season and that was already iconic. And then later, we saw these emotional scenes, like the breakdown scene and so many others. What was it like filming that scene with Sam? Because both of you, this is rare, both of you go to a really incredible place in that scene that’s very rare. It’s usually one person and not the other. So how did y’all set up that day?“

Before answering, Anderson confirms that Coley means that scene between Louis and Lestat in The Vampire Lestat episode six, where Louis has just learned that Lestat and his mother are lovers and Lestat is having a breakdown about the thought of that secret coming out and Louis knowing it. Anderson also insists everyone take a moment to clap for Sam Reid at the SDCC The Vampire Lestat panel. He says, “We should cheer for Sam Reid again. It’s really weird him not being here. But we love you, Sam, if you’re watching.”

Returning to the question, Anderson notes, “You’d think that a scene like that where it’s like we’re screaming at each other and it’s intense, and all the emotions are just there, waiting to come out. But weirdly, that’s the most comfortable I feel making this show. Is like me and Sam screaming at each other or doing some kind of heightened, strange thing. And I feel like there’s a real… It feels comfortable to do that kind of thing. Whereas normally it would feel quite…”

Anderson also gestures to Zaman, “The way that we started season two, being thrown into the fight.” [the ’70s flashback scene to San Francisco in episode five of season two.] And Zaman agrees, “The screaming stuff is the best part. We enjoy that.” And Anderson concludes, “You get really comfortable with it. Yeah, that’s how me and Assed figured out how we work together.”

Sheila Atim Talks Doing Akasha’s Monologue in Two Takes at The Vampire Lestat SDCC Panel

One of the most anticipated characters in The Vampire Lestat was Sheila Atim’s Akasha. And Atim offered some incredible insights into bringing Akasha’s major scene in the season to life. Coley noted, “First of all, no shade to anyone else, but [Sheila’s casting as Akasha] is, in my opinion, some of the best casting since RDJ decided to play Iron Man. Akasha is so beloved. She is so iconic. She is so at the heart of this universe. And despite this season not having that much dialogue, she made her presence known. Let’s be real. Talk us through your monologue and preparing for that.”

Here’s what Atim had to say about feeling the need to “hit a home run” with her big scene:

Yes. Especially when you are coming in right at the end of the shoot, which I was. So we had a day to get it done. Hannah had written an impeccable speech as far as I’m concerned. So I just had to do my job. I had to learn it. I had to turn up. I had to make sure I knew it back to front, inside out, which I did. I paced my hotel room a lot while I was learning it. And then I realized at one point that I would be stuck to this stone table. So I decided to learn it sitting on my bed with one leg up and one leg down in the exact position I would be in, just so I didn’t throw myself on the day.”

And that speech in the script is four pages long and it has no full stops. So it was really about trying to chart the journey through the questions that Akasha is asking in that moment and giving them real meaning, making them feel really present and alive. And then stepping in there and taking on all the wonderful work that all the other departments had done, the hair, the makeup, the set team. Everyone had just prepped so hard for Akasha’s arrival. And yes, I’m playing Akasha, but it was such a team effort. That moment is really the combination of everyone’s brilliant work. And then we were close to the end of the day and we got the first take and then we did another one for safety. It was a two takes.

Only two takes to nail that incredible scene is a beyond astounding feat. Mosovitch praises Atim’s incredible performance and adds some insight into how good it was, “I want to say that we had been in night shoots. We were messed up, and we’d been doing night shoots for months by then. I watched two gaffers on set fully walk into each other because they were so tired. And yet when Sheila did her speech, everyone on set clapped, which I’ve never seen. So that’s how good it was.”

Eric Bogosian and Jacob Anderson Talk Favorite Set Pieces from The Vampire Lestat via Fan Questions Submitted to the SDCC Panel

Opening it up to fan questions sent into AMC’s social channels, Coley read one from @mythofasmith. They wrote, “I’m a scenic and production design student, so sets are my jam. I’d love any of the actors in this. What was your favorite set piece and why, and how do sets influence your acting?” Coley pointed the question at Bogosian, who gave a beautiful answer.

Bogosian shared, “Well, you have to go over the whole, all the three seasons. And my favorite is the tree and the gravel in the tree because we had a very… I will never be able to detach the tree from the emotions that we were going through in that scene. And I think in a lot of ways it was symbolic of the whole enterprise, which there’s always a lot of mystery mixed in with this straightforward interpretation of Anne Rice. And then there’s always something kind of surreal going on at the same time in our sets.

Next up, Anderson offered, “The remarkable thing about this show is that everything’s real. It’s so tangible. We have these beautiful set builds that you can interact with. They’re so detailed. In terms of a piece of dressing on the set, should I reveal this?”

Which, of course, when you ask a question like that! Anderson confessed, “There’s a painting in Lestat’s apartment that I became obsessed with. And it was painted by one of our set-dec team. And it’s a gold-leaf peacock firing pink lasers out of his eyes. And I would just like. I think I always fixate on a thing in the middle of the night. If I’m feeling a bit tired, I sort of fixate on something that makes me feel really happy. And that painting, every time I looked at it, it made me laugh. I don’t think it’s actually… Is it in the show? I don’t know if you ever see it, but it now is up in my living room. It’s massive.”

Assad Zaman on an Armand Head Canon That He’s Created

Next up, social media proposed this question, “The actors do a lot of work and study outside of the script. What is something that you believe to be true about your character, whether a small, fun fact or a larger worldview that isn’t explicitly in the script or show?”

Coley pointed the question at Zaman, but he wasn’t immediatly ready, so he tossed the buck over to Bogosian, who offered a fascinating answer which perhaps wasn’t fully related to the question, but we enjoyed hearing. He said, “Well, there was a question somewhere along the line of what kind of rehearsal we do before our intense scenes. We do no rehearsal. We talk about it, we think about it. But the truth is, is that when I jump into these scenes, specifically with both of these guys, I don’t know what’s going to hit me. They project tremendous aura through their eyes and in the moment. And so that’s what’s happening in the scene, all of that energy comes when we do the scene. I’m a big rehearser. I love to rehearse, but I don’t think I ever rehearsed anything.”

Meanwhile, Zaman offered the following excellent perspective on Armand, “There’s something about Armand when he’s not being observed that I like, that I took. And I think if you know the books, you know that he’s… The specific alien quality about when you are in stasis, you’re almost on standby, like statuesque. You are kind of unable to emote or think anything because everything you do is shaped by either being obsessed with someone, manipulating someone, or trying to survive your trauma in some way. What do those people do when they’re not being observed? The way Anne Rice describes Armand several times, his sort of ethereal alien quality, it doesn’t feel like it’s… She calls it childish, but I don’t see it as childish. I see it more as an alien that’s unable to understand himself, is only able to play a part. So when there’s no one to see them, they just go a little bit dead, soulless kind of thing. That’s something that I took on.”

Queen of The Damned Season 4 Announced and Hannah Moscovitch Becomes Showrunner

And that was all she wrote at the SDCC The Vampire Lestat Hall H panel… Except, of course, for one very important announcement. The Vampire Lestat had been renewed for season four and will be titled Queen of the Damned. Additionally, Hannah Moscovitch will take over for Rolin Jones as showrunner. We can’t wait to go on this next adventure and we’re crossing our fingers it emerges from the ether soon.

Interview with the Vampire seasons one and two and The Vampire Lestat are now streaming on AMC and AMC+. You can read The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice to get even more insight into the story and its characters.

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