On paper, 'Interview with the Vampire' sounds like a behind-the-scenes joy, featuring the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Tom Cruise, and Brad Pitt. However, despite the film's success and star lineup, things were different behind the scenes. Tom Cruise landing the lead role of Lestat was met with a lot of controversy and as for Brad Pitt, well he absolutely hated his time on the film, so much so that he almost walked out while the film was in production.

RELATED - How The Cast Of 'Interview With The Vampire' Did Their Make Up

As for Kirsten Dunst, well she had a totally different experience seeing that it was one of her first major gigs. She had a blast and praised Pitt along with Cruise for their attitudes, "I feel like I watched Brad in A River Runs Through and Tom was in Far and Away, which I loved. They treated me like a little sister. It was very sweet, I was a very innocent 12-year-old. I was just doing my job and they were very sweet to me."

Although Pitt was a class act with his peers, behind the scenes he was struggling.

Despite Brad's Struggles, The Film Was A Success

interview with the vampire poster
via IMDB

Turns out, the vampire film was a big success both at the box office and in terms of the reviews. The film drew $223.7 million, a great number on a budget of $60 million. The film itself was also met with praise, The NY Times called it, "Sumptuous, mesmerizing and imaginatively ghastly."

RELATED - Here's Why Brad Pitt Doesn't Have A Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

The film itself was based on a novel written in 1976 by Anne Rice. The author had some serious praise for the film and that included lots of love for Brad Pitt's performance, playing the role of Louis de Pointe du Lac, "Brad Pitt immediately infused the despairing Louis with an understandable feeling. He played it passive and quiet, and for me and for lots of viewers (they call me and tell me) he got what guilt was all about, a guilt sometimes that is unattached to any one death or loss. He captured the despair of someone who has fallen from grace, lost his faith, seen what he cannot abide by. Brad's eyes, his manner, his soft voice throughout the film were magical."

Brad made such an impact in the film, that fans wanted to see him in the sequel, "The readers calling me really want Brad in the future vampire chronicle films. Well, Brad? Is a burrito really better than immortality? All jokes aside, you were a delicate and heartbreaking Louis; whatever you felt, you swept people off their feet."

The sequel never took place, although there was chatter of a TV series, featuring Tom Cruise. Give the way things went for Brad behind the scenes, we have reason to believe he would not be involved.

Brad Almost Quit

It was the filming aspect that drove Brad to the edge. According to his interview with EW, he was miserable during the filming process. Things got really bad when the production shifted to London, during the prime of winter, "London was dark. London was dead of winter. We're shooting in Pinewood (Studios), which is an old institution -- all the James Bond films. There's no windows in there. It hasn't been refabbed in decades. You leave for work in the dark -- you go into this cauldron, this mausoleum -- and then you come out and it's dark." Things also didn't help that Pitt was playing a dark character, which meant he needed to stay miserable.

RELATED - Brad Pitt Won't Shoot A Film With This Iconic Actor

Things got so bad that Pitt would actually call his agent and attempt to leave the film. The penalty was far too pricey, which caused Pitt to settle down and finish the film, "I'm telling you, one day it broke me. It was like, 'Life's too short for this quality of life.' I called David Geffen, who was a good friend. He was a producer, and he'd just come to visit. I said, 'David, I can't do this anymore. I can't do it. What will it cost me to get out?' And he goes, very calmly, 'Forty million dollars.' And I go, 'OK, thank you.' It actually took the anxiety off of me. I was like, 'I've got to man up and ride this through, and that's what I'm going to do."

At the very least, Pitt enjoyed his time in New Orleans, and despite the struggles, he doesn't regret the film and everything that took place, "I don't lament the failures," he said. "The failures prepare you for the next one. It's a step you needed to take, and I'm all for it."

Pitt would go on to more fame and fortune following the film's release.

NEXT - Brad Pitt Once Threatened This Film Producer

Sources: Nola, Maths & Pinkkvilla