- Christina Ricci, Dominique Swain, Julia Stiles and Erin Moore auditioned for the role of Claudia.
- Author Anne Rice wrote the original part of Lestat for the novel with Rutger Hauer in mind. The book was published in 1976. By the time a movie was to be filmed, Hauer had become too old to portray the ever-young looking vampire. Upon learning that Tom Cruise had been cast, she was quite disappointed and expressed concern that Cruise could not carry the part. After attending a screening, Rice wrote a letter of apology, quite pleased with Cruise's portrayal.
- Tom Cruise wanted a private set, and hence tunnels were built to escort the actors to and from the set. This was done so that the vampire's makeup effects would remain a secret.
- Tom Cruise was placed on an elevated platform during some scenes to reduce the height difference between his character and other vampires.
- The scenes set on the riverfront in New Orleans (including the infamous "Chat Noir") were filmed on a false front built on the levee downriver from the actual French Quarter. The entire set was constructed around the old section of Jackson Barracks, a National Guard post.
- The river scenes were done by removing such modern items as the Greater New Orleans Bridge and radio towers and replacing them with 18th century sailing vessels in post-production. The sailing vessels on the set were Alexandria and Gazela.
- Many buildings and street lights were darkened for the filming by agreement with the companies and the city. The set was immediately torn down after the filming.
- The character Lestat's full name is Lestat de Lioncourt. He was based on Anne Rice's husband Stan Rice, and even given Stan Rice's birthday of 7 November.
- The character Louis' full name is Louis de Pointe du Lac. Louis was based on Anne Rice as she grieved for her deceased daughter, Michelle. Louis was even given Anne Rice's birthday of 4 October.
- The estate of Louis (Brad Pitt) in the beginning of the film was the historic Oak Alley Plantation located on the Mississippi River in Vacherie, Louisiana, which is near New Orleans. The plantation's "guest book" is on display and was signed by Pitt and Tom Cruise.
- Stephen Rea (Santiago) makes regular appearances in Neil Jordan's films.
- Johnny Depp was offered the role of Lestat.
- Evan Rachel Wood auditioned for the role of Claudia.
- Heathcote Williams was going to be in this film but was replaced
- Author Anne Rice was so pleased with this adaptation that she took out a two page ad in both Vanity Fair and the New York Times endorsing it as "a masterpiece".
- The Old Coliseum Theatre in New Orleans, seen when Louis goes to see Tequila Sunrise (1988) in 1988, burned down on 3 February 2006.
- During the cinema montage sequence (depicting the passage of years) towards the last part of the film, where Louis exalts about being able to "see" the sun for the first time in centuries, the clip of a rooster crowing to indicate the coming of dawn is from the silent vampire film Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922).
- Christian Slater was given the role of Daniel upon the death of River Phoenix, who was originally supposed to be Daniel.
- While the production was filming in London, Brad Pitt stayed in a house which used to be owned by Peter Cushing.
- In the book, the reason why Louis becomes depressed in the beginning of the movie is because he feels guilty about the death of his brother; not because he had a wife and child that died. In fact, he never had a wife in the book version.
- Neil Jordan retained final cut on the film.
- The first film production to be given permission to close down two lanes of traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Christian Slater donated his $250,000 salary to two of River Phoenix's favorite charities.
- Christian Slater had to have his shooting schedule for Murder in the First (1995) be reworked to allow him to appear in the film.
- Tom Cruise spent 3 and a half hours every day in the make-up chair.
- Tom Cruise prepped for the role of Lestat by watching videos of lions attacking zebras in the wild.
- Although the screen credits read "Screenplay by Anne Rice based on her novel", the script was actually heavily rewritten by director Neil Jordan. Writers Guild rules meant that Rice got credit.
- The rights to Anne Rice's novel were first optioned by Paramount in 1976 for $150,000 - before the book was first published. John Travolta was then earmarked to play Lestat but John Badham's 1979 version of Dracula (1979) and the spoof Love at First Bite (1979) put the project into turnaround.
- Thandie Newton and Tom Cruise also appear together in Mission: Impossible II (2000).
- Oprah Winfrey stormed out of the premiere during the first reel, disgusted by the amount of blood in the film.
- Jeremy Irons turned down the part of Lestat as he didn't want to play another character that required hours in the make-up chair, coming off the back of The House of the Spirits (1993).
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