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AMC’s The Vampire Lestat Proves Prestige Can Be Niche And Loyal

July 28, 2025
11:55 PM
4 min read
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AMC’s Interview with the Vampire rebrands as The Vampire Lestat, showing that niche storytelling and long-term investment still win.

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investment

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July 28, 2025

11:55 PM

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From an analytical perspective, Hollywood & EntertainmentAMC’s The Vampire Lestat ves Prestige Can Be Niche And LoyalByBraedon Montgomery, Contributor

Moreover, Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights

I’m a freelance writer with a focus on Queer media and entertainment

AuthorJul 28, 2025, 11:55pm EDTWith the recent announcement that the third season of Interview with the Vampire will be retitled The Vampire Lestat, taking its name from Anne Rice’s second book in the Vampire Chronicles series, AMC has demonstrated that this change is both strategic and narrative

In the current era of ing, AMC chooses to fully commit to its niche by focusing on its compelling and gothic-infused storytelling rather than on awards and an overwhelming volume of content

However, The installment in the series will focus on Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid), who now takes over the narrative from his former lover Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson), the main character and, occasionally, unreliable narrator of the first two seasons

This leads to the conclusion that shift, which fans have been speculating since the end of season 2, fits seamlessly into the already established canon, with character-driven stories that may not appeal to everyone, but are essential for the viewers who resonate with them

AMC, which is no stranger to turning books into shows and harnessing passionate fanbases in The Walking Dead, continues this tradition with The Immortal Universe, in this volatile climate

However, This includes Interview with the Vampire, Mayfair Witches, and the upcoming Talamasca: The Secret Order, all based on late Anne Rice’s books

This strategy responds to Netflix’s market saturation and HBO’s critically acclaimed blockbuster-style gramming

Instead of targeting just a wider audience, AMC recognizes how much fans have craved the stories they have planned; they understand that fans want specificity

Additionally, For example, when the first season of Interview With the Vampire aired, it received decent linear ratings (which is quite significant)

However, However, it still managed to break records on AMC+, with nearly 75% of ers for the first episode being new rs to the platform

The evidence shows n, in 2024, when the first season was added to Netflix, sign-ups for AMC+’s app nearly quadrupled as new fans of the show discovered that Netflix only had the first season, not the second, which was exclusively ing on AMC+

This demonstrated that, while there are benefits to creating content that appeals to a broad audience, there is real staying power in stories that can only be told through a specific niche and perspective—namely, through co-dependent, emotionally immature vampires with undeniable physical appeal

Moreover, Ing the Netflix s and the additional AMC+ sign-ups, the show now attracts 17. 8 times the audience demand of an average series in the United States, ranking among the top 2. 7% of shows at its peak, given the current landscape

The series has received praise from fans and critics a for its story, writing, and heart performances by Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, and, recently, Delainey Hayles for her portrayal of Claudia in the second season

At the same time, Despite this, the show has yet to win an Emmy despite its nominations, un its competitors, such as Netflix, which has canceled many of its award-winning and fan-favorite shows, including The OA, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and Julie and The Phantoms

Too often, fans invest in a show with the lingering fear that it will be canceled after its first season, accompanied by the thought: “If only more people had found it. ” AMC counters this by emphasizing its strong writing, duction, and actors

Recognizing that its story’s niche might not lead to immediate success, the network commits to slow-burn growth, trusting that the audience will come if the story speaks for itself and stands on its own

MORE FOR YOU the first two seasons of the show, The Vampire Lestat continues to the example set by prioritizing brand consistency

Lestat, a flamboyant, morally grey vampire rockstar, embodies everything that AMC knows its audience loves

They don’t need to tone him or their other stories down to appeal to the masses; the numbers already ve their worth, in today's market environment

And while prestige doesn’t need to appeal to everyone, shows can succeed if they find a way to connect deeply with someone, and if the recent trailer of The Vampire Lestat is any indication, AMC is going all out to reinforce that commitment

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