Lili Reinhart wants Hollywood to take a bigger creative risk.
The actress and producer recently revealed that she has been trying to develop a movie based on a novella about lesbian vampires, but she says studios have been reluctant to make the project.
Speaking during an interview with Hits Radio, Reinhart said the project is something she is actively attempting to adapt.
“It’s a novella that I’m trying to get adapted that is about lesbian vampires, and people are too afraid to make that,” Reinhart said.
She then made a direct appeal to entertainment executives, questioning why a project like this would be considered too risky for today’s audience.
For actors, filmmakers, screenwriters, and producers, Reinhart’s comments highlight a larger conversation happening across Hollywood: which stories studios consider commercially viable and which projects struggle to secure financing.
Lili Reinhart Is Expanding Beyond Acting
Reinhart became widely known for playing Betty Cooper on The CW’s Riverdale, but her career has increasingly moved beyond acting.
She has also taken on producing responsibilities and become more involved in developing projects.
One of her latest examples is The Love Hypothesis, the Prime Video adaptation of Ali Hazelwood’s bestselling romance novel.
The film stars Reinhart as Olive Smith alongside Tom Bateman as Adam Carlsen. Prime Video also credits Reinhart as one of the movie’s producers, alongside Elizabeth Cantillon, Catherine Hagedorn, Ali Hazelwood, and J. Michael Williams.
Released on Prime Video on September 23, 2026, The Love Hypothesis demonstrates Reinhart’s growing involvement in bringing popular books to the screen.
That experience could make her unidentified vampire novella another potential book-to-screen project if financing and studio support come together.
What Is Lili Reinhart’s Lesbian Vampire Project?
For now, one major detail remains a mystery.
Reinhart has not publicly revealed the name of the novella she wants to adapt.
That has led to speculation online that the project could be based on Carmilla, Sheridan Le Fanu’s influential 1872 Gothic novella about a female vampire and her relationship with a young woman.
However, there is currently no confirmation from Reinhart that Carmilla is the project she is discussing. Reports covering her comments have similarly noted that the source material remains unidentified.
That distinction is important. Until Reinhart or someone officially connected to the project announces the book, any connection to Carmilla remains speculation.
Why Vampire Stories Continue to Attract Hollywood
Vampires have remained one of entertainment’s most adaptable supernatural concepts.
Projects ranging from Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Diaries to new interpretations of Nosferatu have shown that vampire stories can work across horror, romance, drama, fantasy, and young-adult entertainment.
That flexibility makes Reinhart’s proposed project notable.
A lesbian vampire movie could combine multiple genres while also reaching audiences interested in horror, Gothic romance, supernatural storytelling, and LGBTQ-centered narratives.
For filmmakers, it is another example of how familiar genres can be reinvented through different characters and perspectives.
For actors, genre projects can also create unconventional roles that move beyond traditional romantic leads or standard horror archetypes.
LGBTQ Representation in Hollywood Films Declined in 2025
Reinhart’s comments also arrive during a measurable decline in LGBTQ representation among films released by major distributors.
GLAAD’s 2026 Where We Are in Film study examined 225 movies released during 2025 by 10 major film distributors.
According to the study, 46 of those movies — 20.4% — included at least one LGBTQ character. That was down from 23.6% in the previous year and marked the third consecutive annual decline from the 28.5% recorded for 2023 releases.
Those numbers provide additional context for Reinhart’s claim that some decision-makers remain hesitant about queer-focused projects.
She is also not the only filmmaker publicly discussing financing difficulties involving LGBTQ stories.
Lilly Wachowski Has Raised Similar Concerns
The Matrix filmmaker Lilly Wachowski recently discussed challenges financing another project, The Hunted.
Wachowski described the film as a roughly $10 million political thriller with a transgender cast. She said that people who read the screenplay respond positively but that financiers have been reluctant to make the film because it has what she described as a “wall-to-wall trans cast.”
Wachowski has since explored alternative ways of presenting the project, including a live table read in Los Angeles.
The circumstances surrounding each project are different, but both examples illustrate how financing, representation, and perceived commercial risk continue to intersect in Hollywood.
Reinhart Says Queer Characters Make Projects More Appealing
Reinhart has also been open about her personal interest in playing queer characters.
During the same Hits Radio conversation, she joked that she becomes more interested in a movie when her character is “a little gay,” connecting that preference with her own identity.
That perspective could influence the kinds of stories she chooses to develop as she continues building her producing career.
Actors increasingly have opportunities to shape projects beyond simply auditioning for existing roles. Producing, acquiring book rights, developing screenplays, and collaborating with independent filmmakers can give performers greater control over the stories they help bring to audiences.
Reinhart’s efforts represent one version of that career path.
What This Could Mean for Actors and Filmmakers
There is currently no confirmed production schedule, casting announcement, director, studio, or release date for Reinhart’s proposed lesbian vampire adaptation.
That means performers should be cautious about any unofficial casting notices claiming to be connected to the project.
If the movie does eventually move forward, however, development announcements could eventually lead to opportunities for actors, crew members, writers, and other entertainment professionals.
Projects based on recognizable books can also move quickly once financing, rights, producers, and distribution are secured.
For aspiring filmmakers, Reinhart’s comments offer another lesson: even established actors and producers can spend significant time trying to get projects financed.
A compelling concept does not automatically guarantee a green light.
Development often requires persistence, the right creative partners, financing, distribution interest, and confidence that an audience exists.
Could Hollywood Eventually Say Yes?
Reinhart clearly believes there is an audience for the project.
Whether a studio ultimately agrees remains unknown.
But with vampire stories continuing to appear across film and television — and creators looking for new ways to approach familiar genres — a queer Gothic vampire adaptation could potentially fit into both the horror and romance markets.
For now, the most important development is simply that Reinhart is actively trying to make it happen.
And if the project eventually receives a green light, actors and filmmakers will want to watch closely for official production and casting updates.
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