The Vampire Armand: Unveiling the Dramatic Evolution of the Character in Interview With The Vampire

Summary

The TV show version of Armand plays a larger and more significant role than in the movie adaptation, setting up future storylines for the character.

In the show, an intriguing twist is unveiled as it is revealed that Rashid, a character specifically devised for the series, is in fact Armand. This revelation adds a layer of intricacy and depth to the relationship between Armand and Louis. Furthermore, the physical appearance of Armand and the dynamics of his relationship with Louis have been modified from the book, resulting in captivating storytelling and offering exciting possibilities for future storylines.

The vampire Armand plays a significant role in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, and AMC's Interview with the Vampire introduced him in a surprising twist ending. The new adaptation, set to premiere in 2022, reimagines Rice's classic novel and follows journalist Daniel Molloy as he interviews vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac in Dubai, where Louis recounts his extraordinary life. The show captures the sensuality, horror, and mystery that made Rice's book memorable, and it also incorporates the queer themes that were overlooked in previous adaptations. AMC had such confidence in the series that they renewed it even before the first season aired.

The series is not afraid to deviate from the original source material and updates the story to the present day, making necessary adjustments to suit the episodic nature of television. Despite these changes, the core essence of the story remains intact, which attracted a large audience. Characters like Louis have modified backstories, and Daniel's character has a more significant role beyond being just a messenger, as portrayed in the book and movie. The vampire Armand has also undergone significant alterations, indicating that the creators have a long-term plan for the character.

Armand Plays A Much Bigger Role In The TV Show Than The Movie

Right from the start, Armand's role in the 1994 movie of the same name underwent a significant upgrade. While readers of Rice's books understand the importance of Armand in the Vampire Chronicles, the film wisely chose to minimize his presence (portrayed by Antonio Banderas at the time) in order to maintain a reasonable length. Delving into his extensive and crucial backstory would have diverted the two-hour Neil Jordan-directed movie in a completely different direction, which would not have served the overall product. Armand shares a significant history with Louis, Lestat, and Claudia, but the movie only touched upon it briefly for the sake of brevity.

Although AMC's Armand was officially introduced only in the season 1 finale of Interview with the Vampire, he already plays a much larger role, with clear indications of further involvement in upcoming seasons. In an interview with Den of Geek, Assad Zaman, the actor playing Armand, shared his experiences during the casting process, where he was informed that they were looking for someone who could carry Armand into the second season. The reveal itself is undeniable evidence that Armand will be a lead character, which Zaman confirmed in the aforementioned interview.

Armand Disguised Himself As Rashid In Interview With The Vampire

Interview with the Vampire's setting change served as a perfect introduction for audiences, signaling that the AMC TV series would have similarities but also notable differences. In order to accommodate the decision to change Louis' race, significant adjustments were made to his problematic backstory. Additionally, the show's producers chose to modify the narrative, particularly in the first half of Rice's novel, creating a more captivating episodic format. Throughout the initial season, Rashid (Assad Zaman) dutifully assisted Louis, allowing him to feed and completing other tasks for the vampire. Due to Rashid's seemingly human attributes, Daniel had no suspicions of his true nature.

However, the inclusion of a shared past between Daniel and Louis introduced a new twist. Suddenly, Daniel recalls an encounter in the 1970s where he first met Louis and Rashid accompanied them. With the passing decades, it becomes apparent that Rashid, who appeared relatively youthful, is actually the vampire Armand. This revelation deviated from Rice's original story, as Rashid was a creation specifically for the show. Aside from being a compelling twist, this development also paves the way for further storytelling in the second season, highlighting the longstanding connection between Louis and Armand.

The physical appearance of Armand in Rice's novel has never been accurately portrayed, as the ancient vampire's transformation at the age of 17 has bestowed him with a perpetually youthful face. However, AMC's depiction of Armand ages him to his late 20s, eliminating the need for a younger actor to take on the role. This decision mirrors the 1994 movie where Banderas' age was chosen over portraying him as a teenager. In addition to the physical changes, the relationship between Armand and Louis diverges significantly from the book, particularly regarding their history with Claudia's death, which Armand allows to occur. Despite their everlasting bond, Armand and Louis do not share a friendly connection in the book, and any romantic feelings have long since faded. In the show, their relationship is depicted as a true love, which adds an intriguing dynamic for future episodes.

How Armand Will Develop In Season 2 (Including A New Power)

The Interview with the Vampire show cleverly avoids a common problem in adapting material by adjusting its structure to suit the episodic format instead of a single movie. This choice enables the creators to selectively incorporate elements from Rice's extensive Vampire Chronicles. By introducing Armand as a new character in season 2, the show can delve into his past connections with Lestat, Louis, and Claudia, starting fresh with a blank canvas. Daniel's convenient memory loss resolves any potential continuity issues, allowing the character to undergo a complete transformation similar to Louis.

While the decision to depict Armand and Louis as lovers is unconventional, it does not erase the established timeline from Rice's books. It is entirely plausible that events portrayed in the books actually occurred, and the characters managed to reconcile their relationship. Alternatively, the show may deviate entirely from the source material, as they did with Louis' previous ownership of slaves. Regardless of their approach, having Armand as a prominent character in season 2 will undoubtedly enhance the appeal of the show's second installment.

The vampire Armand, in the books at least, is older and more powerful than Louis, and while he was subservient to Louis, he displayed considerable power. Daniel pondered over how Armand could tolerate sunlight, and the newly unveiled vampire clarified that older and more powerful vampires could endure some exposure to the sun if necessary. In the same interview with Den of Geek, Eric Bogosian cryptically hinted at Armand's extraordinary abilities, stating that there were still many untold aspects yet to be discovered. This suggests that these abilities will be unveiled in the near future.

Assad Zaman also raised an intriguing possibility during his interview, suggesting that Armand may have been experimenting or altering certain elements. This not only confirms that Armand's backstory intersects with the broader context of Interview with the Vampire, but also opens up the possibility that he could make an appearance in season 2 of AMC's Mayfair Witches, set in Anne Rice's fictional universe. Given that the novel series features a crossover with Lestat, it is plausible that any character from Interview with the Vampire could also emerge. Armand could potentially serve as the bridge connecting AMC's planned Anne Rice TV universe.