‘Interview With the Vampire’ Photos Reveal Blake Ritson as Book Character, Madeleine & More
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Interview With the Vampire Season 2 Episode 1.]
AMC has released a swath of new photos from Interview With the Vampire Season 2 that reveal previously unseen — and unknown, until now! — guest stars.
Season 2 premieres this Sunday, May 12 at 9/8c on AMC (the episode will also be streaming on AMC+, but a debut time has not been revealed). Photos from the Season 2 premiere reveal The Gilded Age‘s Blake Ritson as a character from Anne Rice‘s novel of the same name, as well as the first look at Roxane Duran as Madeleine.
Ritson plays Morgan Ward, per AMC. In the second half of the book, Louis meets Morgan while traveling with Claudia in Europe. Morgan tells Louis that his new wife, Emily, was bitten by a vampire on their honeymoon and he fears what the local community will do to her, revealing to Louis that the humans nearby are deeply superstitious about bloodsuckers. All we know about Ritson’s Morgan is that he appears in Season 2 Episode 1. The series could have Morgan’s story be a direct adaptation with no changes, but this show is celebrated for its captivating new takes on the source material, so we suspect some tweaks.
Ritson is seen in a photo with Jacob Anderson‘s Louis below, so we know that Louis and Morgan will meet, and he’ll presumably meet Claudia (Delainey Hayles) as well. Time will tell how Morgan will be incorporated, but given that his scene in the book is rather long, it’s exciting to know that this character is making an appearance.
Louis and Claudia conspired to kill Lestat (Sam Reid) in the Season 1 finale. That haunts Louis in Season 2, so much so that he hallucinates what the cast calls “Dream-stat.” This figment of Louis’ imagination haunts him and his decisions throughout the second season, acting as the devilish ex on his shoulder.
This is a creative adaptation of the source material that allows us to still have Reid on-screen in the second season. In the book, Louis says, “It was as if the empty nights were made for thinking of him.” That line provided the key to “Dream-stat.” Lestat is basically absent for the entire second half of Rice’s novel, bar some mentions from Louis and Claudia.
Below, meet Ritson’s Morgan, Duran’s Madeleine, and members of the Théâtres des Vampires coven that Louis and Claudia will meet in Paris. Plus, see new photos of Reid, Assad Zaman as Armand, Eric Bogosian as Daniel Molloy, and Ben Daniels as Santiago.
Interview With the Vampire, Season 2 Premieres Sunday, May 12, 9/8c, AMC, Streaming on AMC+
Louis and Lestat in Episode 1. Lestat will appear as a ghost-like figment of Louis’ imagination as he tries to cope with the guilt of what he and Claudia did in the Season 1 finale.
Hayles previously told TV Insider that “Claudia would have world domination” if it weren’t for being trapped in a young teen’s body. Looking at this photo… yeah. We agree. The cigarette in her mouth. The gun in her hand. The complete lack of f***s in her eyes. Don’t mess with Claudia!
Louis and Claudia search for Old World Vampires in Europe in Episode 1
The Gilded Age‘s Ritson as Morgan Ward
Louis and Morgan bond over cigarettes and drinks
Claudia is desperate to find a larger vampire community
Louis and Claudia trek Europe together, a glimmer of hope in their eyes
Armand may take part in Daniel’s interview
The interview continues with Daniel and Louis in Dubai in 2022, but why does he look concerned?
The origins of Louis and Armand’s love story plays out in Paris
Ben Daniels as the vampire Santiago, the star of the Théâtres des Vampires with unique vampiric powers
As revealed in TV Insider’s Interview With the Vampire Season 2 preview, Easter eggs from the Lestat-heavy book sequels The Vampire Lestat, The Queen of the Damned and The Tale of the Body Thief appear early on in the season. These photos of Lestat appear to be from a flashback to his life before Louis.
Reid in another Lestat flashback
The question is, who’s telling the Lestat flashback story? Can that narrator be trusted?
Roxane Duran as Madeleine. Readers of the book know of this character’s important connection to Claudia.
Armand is the devilishly alluring ancient vampire who runs the Théâtres des Vampires in the Paris flashbacks. In Dubai, he’s trying to protect Louis, the love of his life.
Santiago with Celeste, a vampire from the Paris coven played by Suzanne Andrade
Armand is angered by something involving the coven
Claudia and Louis attend a show at the Théâtres des Vampires
The Théâtres des Vampires itself
The Théâtres des Vampires coven in Paris
Claudia performs at the theater
Claudia advertises a show called “Mon Bébé Aime Les Fenetres,” which means “My Baby Loves Windows” in French.
Claudia is still committed to journaling in Season 2
Daniel has less patience for Louis and Armand in Season 2 after their lies were revealed in the Season 1 finale
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