You can pretty much tell who's at the top of the casting directors' frequently-called list by the names that keep getting linked with more and more major projects. And after his box office double whammy of Tropic Thunder and, of course, Iron Man last year, Robert Downey Jr is firmly back on speed dial.

The latest project that he's being linked with is a cinematic reboot of Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles. Thus far, Rice's vampire books have led to two films, the highest profile of which was the Tom Cruise-starring Interview With The Vampire. Cruise played Lestat, a role that was then taken on by Stuart Townsend in Queen Of The Damned.

And now? Bloody Disgusting is reporting that Universal Pictures is keen to bring The Vampire Chronicles back to the big screen, although it's not certain which book it'll be looking to tackle. The site does seem far more confident, however ,that it's Robert Downey Jr who is close to inking a deal to play Lestat in the new movie.

More news on this as we get it...

Bloody Disgusting