This was me at 17, drinking blood orange juice in a hotel in Rome while on a school trip with the Latin club.
I’m nearly 26 now, and I’ve just finished Anne Rice’s latest novel “Prince Lestat”. I began reading the Vampire Chronicles when I was 15 or 16, I can’t remember exactly, and they really meant a lot to me. Armand and Daniel were my first OTP.
There wasn’t a real fandom to join since Anne Rice had attacked fandom activity, destroying the archives of fanfiction long before I’d ever pick up one of her books. Furthermore my guardians were leery of the internet and me being welcome in their home depended on staying in their good graces, so I never thought to rebel.
I dreamed of vampires on my own, devouring anything I could get my hands on, wishing I’d come of age in the 80s as “Lestat” described them, wishing these characters were real and would carry me away into their world.
From my reading, I think their families knew, I don’t know to what extent they faced prejudice for being lovers, I don’t know what that must have been like in the 18th century in France.
[^fanart by @garama] I would assume that they did have to face prejudice and other harassment for being lovers, but that they chose to stay together in spite of the prejudice/harassment, it was something they could weather.
There seems to be a shared fanon headcanon that Nicki was Lestat’s first real boyfriend
superhiki I’m so hyped about the new #vampirechronicles TV show- I’m throwing my full support behind @thomasjwf as Lestat- if there is any doubt in your heart here is some proof. 💟🦇💟
thomasjwf🤯💖 Oh wow that is so totally flattering. Thank you so much! Let’s hope I get the opportunity to give it a shot. 🤞🏻🎬🧛🏻♂️
superhiki @thomasjwf I hope so too! You’ve got a growing crowd of supporters. 💐💐
He looks like fanart??!! He has a lot of great pics on his IG, I’m trying to keep this post from getting out of control and only picking a few out, but ppl, go check him out. Physically I think he could work, just needs more canon-compliant styling, but this image below looks like it could be for the Rolling Stone article about his upcoming concert tour *u*
[^X] He’s not just open to playing Lestat, he’s throwing himself at the part, making professional looking cosplays, and his exuberance for it is so heartwarming and in character. I think he’s trying to get these hashtags trending: #castme #imyourlestat! (If he does, he might have to share them with other hopeful Lestats!)
splitclownsyndrome: All I see is Lestat. Such beauty. I hope you do go for the audition.and if you don’t make it, I’ll think of your face while I complete my first novel. 💕💕. Supporting you all the way, my friend
thomasjwf: @splitclownsyndrome thank you so much! More than my own desire and convictions motivating me to portray the role i’m really moved by the support and encouragement from fans of the VC universe. I know how close @annericeauthor is to her readers and receiving validation like this from them is lighting the best kind of fire under my butt. I only hope for the opportunity to prove what i can do above and beyond just posting pictures that convey the right essence. That said, I appreciate your words immensely and hope to have the opportunity to make you and everyone else who comes across my stuff on here proud! 🤞🏻🧛🏻♂️🌹
[X] Here’s a pic with him with blonde hair bc reasons.
The comments on some of his Lestat pics are really sweet and supportive, and that tells me that re: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” some of those beholders agree on him ❤
facebyjacques: Love the edit you did! So much fun collaborating with you, you are an incredible model! You were born to play Lestat!
eggsonrye: Perfect. He’s my favourite fictional character come to life, just how imagined
mandeemorningstar: @thomasjwf best of luck! They would be stupid not to pick you. You look exactly how I picture him when I read the books. Spot on!
sandrakay400: I would kill to see you on the silver screen as Lestat! !! Your perfect for it ! better than any of the other what’s-their-names?, lol
moonchild_sa: I’ll be honest, I have no idea how you found my account(my pictures), but I do see that you are a fellow Vampire Chronicles fan as myself, so that was fun and unexpected. You do make a great Lestat btw✌🏻💖
Here’s one more supportive comment:
[X posted Jan. 13, 2018] AR likes him! (transcribed from above):
You’re a striking young man; Thomas. When the time comes for casting, I’ll do my best to get real usable info as to here people should go to audition, and I will post it here and on the VC page. We are a year out from casting right now. Thanks for your pic and your comments. You have a marvelous face, marvelous expression, beautiful hair and facial structure, and eyes.
And in this post it looks like he’s a reader, too. This is his year in books, and from the looks of it, he’s read VC and other books that Lestat might have read and liked, too. More food for the character development 😉
“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)
I-want-my-IWTV 