rivjudephoenix:

Fan Made Painting of River as Lestat

“When it came to casting the role of the Vampire Lestat in the much anticipated screen adaptation of Anne Rice’s best seller Interview with the Vampire, River Phoenix was the author’s first choice. She felt that Phoenix, with his mysteriously haunted yet fragile quality was perfect to play the Vampire and fought for him to get the part. It was the first big-budget Hollywood movie for Irish Neil Jordan. Jordan was at the mercy of the studio, who wanted proven box-office star Tom Cruise for the starring role. They agreed to give Phoenix the lesser role of Malloy, the narrator, as a consolation prize. Rice was furious when Cruise was cast and went public to complain about his being the wrong choice”

– Lost in Hollywood: The Fast Times and Short Life of River Phoenix (1995)