Sheila Atim Cast as Akasha: Interview with the Vampire Announces Shock Casting Alongside Season 3 Trailer at NYCC

New York Comic Con just became a little more immortal. AMC’s Interview with the Vampire stormed the stage at NYCC with a fiery new Season 3 trailer and an announcement that left fans clutching their lace gloves — the iconic role of Akasha, the Queen of All Vampires, will be played by none other than Sheila Atim.

Yes, that Akasha. The mother of all bloodsuckers. The living god of the undead. She is finally stepping into the spotlight on the series and frankly, it’s about time. After two seasons of brooding monologues, intense stares, and a whole lot of emotional bloodletting, the show is ready to crank up the volume. Season 3 officially shifts the narrative to The Vampire Lestat, picking up where the Season 2 finale left off and charging full speed into the rock star arc that fans of the books have been begging for. The new trailer doesn’t hold back, it’s leather, eyeliner, and unholy charisma with Lestat (Sam Reid) basking in the chaos he creates.

But let’s not get distracted by the glitter and guitars. The real headline here is Sheila Atim as Akasha, confirmed directly by the show’s official Twitter account. Known for her powerful presence in projects like The Underground Railroad and The Woman King, Atim brings a regal authority that’s perfect for the ancient and terrifying vampire queen. Akasha is not just any character, she is the source of all vampiric life in Anne Rice’s mythology. Bringing her into the story signals that things are about to go full apocalyptic.

Comic Con audiences were treated to a teaser that hints at the chaos to come: cults forming around Lestat, Louis and Armand navigating fallout from Paris, and dark whispers of Those Who Must Be Kept, a name that book fans instantly recognize as Akasha and her forever-napping vampire king, Enkil.

With new cast members like Jennifer Ehle, Christopher Heyerdahl, and Damien Atkins joining the fray, it’s clear that AMC is building out the deeper lore of the Vampire Chronicles in a big way. Season 3 isn’t just a continuation, it’s a reset, a reinvention, and apparently, a warning. Because when Akasha wakes up, people tend to die. A lot.

Season 3 of Interview with the Vampire, officially retitled The Vampire Lestat, is set to premiere in 2026. If this trailer is anything to go by, we’re in for blood, betrayal, and probably a killer soundtrack.

So stock up on holy water, polish your silver, and follow Interview with the Vampire on all socials because the Queen has arrived, and she’s not here for subtlety.