Queen of the Damned, it seems, is finally coming out later this month. While the trailers do indeed look lovely, they’ve spurred me to seek additional information about the film, and I have to wonder, yet again, if the casting people are completely demented. This was supposed to be the adaptation where Anne Rice finally got her own say in the production, and yet half of the actors have at least 10-year age gaps with their characters. Or at least, their characters’ apparent ages — we are dealing with vampires here.

And, of course, I am still upset about the fact that Wes Bentley will not portray Lestat, which I will continue to harp on until someone other than myself displays signs of fully grasping the scope of that incredible tragedy. I can’t get too fanboyish about a snipped storyline, a muddled accent, a completely mutilated backstory or motivation (all of which are indeed present), but to have that actor/role casting wet dream dangled in front of me and then yanked away? That, I fear, I will never forgive. Seeing how gorgeous the film turned out, at least to judge by previews, just makes it that much worse.

Ya heard?