Immortal Universe
- Interview with the Vampire
- Mayfair Witches
Anne Rice's Immortal Universe is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on the 2020s AMC television series adaptations of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches supernatural horror novel series. The books, which originated with the 1976 novel Interview with the Vampire, follow vampires and witches in the ancient and modern world. The franchise includes two television series, Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches. A third is in development, focused on the Talamasca, a secret society in Rice's novels who investigate the paranormal.
AMC coined the term "Immortal Universe" with the October 2022 release of its Interview with the Vampire series. Notable characters include the vampires Lestat de Lioncourt and Louis de Pointe du Lac, the witch Rowan Mayfair and paranormal investigator and empath Ciprien Grieve.
History
Novels from Rice's The Vampire Chronicles were previously adapted in the films Interview with the Vampire (1994) and Queen of the Damned (2002).[1][2] In August 2014, Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment acquired the motion picture rights to the entire Vampire Chronicles series, with producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci signed to helm the potential film franchise.[3] In May 2016, it was reported that writer–director Josh Boone and Jill Killington had completed a script adapting Rice's Interview with the Vampire (1976) and its sequel, The Vampire Lestat (1985).[4][5]
In November 2016, Rice announced that the theatrical rights to her novels had reverted to her, and that she and her son, writer Christopher Rice, would be developing and executive producing a potential television series based on her works.[6] In April 2017, they teamed up with Paramount Television and Anonymous Content to develop a series,[7] and in early 2018, Bryan Fuller joined the project.[8] On July 17, 2018, it was announced that the series was in development at streaming service Hulu, and that Fuller had departed the production.[9] By December 2019, Hulu's rights had expired, and Rice was shopping a package combining film and TV rights to both The Vampire Chronicles and her related Lives of the Mayfair Witches series.[10] Rice was reportedly asking around $30 to $40 million, plus a $2.5 million buyout of Warner Bros.' rights, and the new owner would hold the rights in perpetuity, not just as an option.[10]
In May 2020, it was announced that AMC Studios had acquired the rights to The Vampire Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches for developing film and television projects.[11] Rice and her son would serve as executive producers on any projects developed.[11] Rice said, "It's always been my dream to see the worlds of my two biggest series united under a single roof so that filmmakers could explore the expansive and interconnected universe of my vampires and witches. That dream is now a reality, and the result is one of the most significant and thrilling deals of my long career."[11] Rice died in December 2021.[12]
AMC coined the term "Immortal Universe" with the October 2022 release of its Interview with the Vampire series.[13][14] A second series, Mayfair Witches, debuted in January 2023.[15]
The studio created a custom font called Immortal Gothic for the franchise.[16][17][18]
Television series
Two television series make up the Immortal Universe franchise: Interview with the Vampire, and Mayfair Witches. All series in total amount to 23 episodes across three seasons of television.
Series | Season | Episodes | Originally aired | Showrunner(s) | Status | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | ||||||
Interview with the Vampire | 1 | 7 | October 2, 2022 (2022-10-02) | November 13, 2022 (2022-11-13) | Rolin Jones | Released | |
2 | 8 | May 12, 2024 (2024-05-12) | June 30, 2024 (2024-06-30) | ||||
3[19] | 8[20] | TBA | TBA | In development | |||
Mayfair Witches | 1 | 8 | January 8, 2023 (2023-01-08) | February 26, 2023 (2023-02-26) | Esta Spalding | Released | |
2 | 8[21] | 2025 (2025)[22] | TBA | Post-production[23] | |||
The Talamasca | 1[24] | 6[24] | 2025[24] | TBA | John Lee Hancock and Mark Lafferty[24] | In development | |
Night Island | 1 | 6[25] | TBA | TBA | Jonathan Ceniceroz[25] |
Interview with the Vampire (2022)
In June 2021, it was announced that AMC had given a series order for Interview with the Vampire, a television adaptation of the first half of Rice's 1976 novel, executive produced by Rolin Jones and Mark Johnson.[26] On September 28, 2022, ahead of the series premiere, AMC renewed Interview with the Vampire for a second season which covered the second half of the novel.[27][28] Season one premiered on AMC on October 2, 2022, with an advance release three days earlier on the network's streaming service, AMC+.[29]
The series stars Sam Reid as 18th century French vampire Lestat de Lioncourt,[30] Jacob Anderson as his lover, Louis de Pointe du Lac,[31] Eric Bogosian as modern-day journalist Daniel Molloy,[32] and Assad Zaman as ancient vampire Armand.[33] Teenage vampire Claudia is portrayed by Bailey Bass in season one,[34] and by Delainey Hayles in season two.[35] New characters introduced in season two include Ben Daniels as the vampire Santiago,[36] and Roxane Duran as Madeleine.[37]
In the story, rakish vampire Lestat comes to 1910 New Orleans and seduces brothel owner Louis, who consents to being made a vampire himself. But Louis struggles with the killing of, and isolation from, humans that his survival now requires, and he grows apart from Lestat. Louis forms a bond with young vampire Claudia, but she proves to be impulsive and reckless, endangering their already fragile family unit.
Ancillary material to the first season of Interview with the Vampire included Obsessed with the Vampire, a digital post-show discussion about each new episode, and a podcast in which host Naomi Ekperigin is joined by the actors and writers from the series.[38][39]
Mayfair Witches (2023)
In December 2021, it was reported that AMC had given a series order for Mayfair Witches, a television adaptation of Rice's 1990 novel The Witching Hour, written and executive produced by Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford, and executive produced by Mark Johnson.[40][41] The Interview with the Vampire series was already in production, but had not yet aired.[40][41] Mayfair Witches premiered on AMC and AMC+ on January 8, 2023.[15] On February 3, 2023, AMC renewed the series for a second season.[42]
The series stars Alexandra Daddario as neurosurgeon Rowan Mayfair,[43] Harry Hamlin as wealthy patriarch Cortland Mayfair,[44] Tongayi Chirisa as Talamasca agent and empath Ciprien Grieve,[45] and Jack Huston as the malevolent spirit Lasher.[46][47] Recurring roles include Annabeth Gish as Rowan's birth mother Deirdre Mayfair, Beth Grant as Rowan's great aunt Carlotta Mayfair, Erica Gimpel as Rowan's adopted mother Ellie Mayfair and Jen Richards as Cortland's daughter Jojo Mayfair.[45]
In the story, Rowan is shocked to learn she is the heiress to a dynasty of powerful witches haunted by a sinister entity called Lasher. As she uncovers the secrets of her new family and learns her true nature, she is surveilled, and soon assisted, by an agent of a mysterious organization called the Talamasca.
The Talamasca (2025)
In April 2023, it was announced that AMC was developing a third Immortal Universe series focused on the Talamasca, a secret society featured in Rice's Vampire Chronicles and Mayfair Witches series.[48][49] In June 2024, it was reported that AMC had greenlit the series, titled Anne Rice's The Talamasca, set to be written and executive produced by showrunners John Lee Hancock and Mark Lafferty.[24] Principal photography for the first season will begin in the fall of 2024 in Manchester, England.[24] The season comprises six episodes, set to premiere in 2025.[24]
Future series
In April 2023, AMC announced The Night Island, a six-part short-form digital series written by Jonathan Ceniceroz. Centered on a luxury resort for vampires featured in Rice's 1988 novel The Queen of the Damned, the series will follow a pair of burglars attempting to steal a painting from the island who are unaware of the supernatural nature of its inhabitants.[25][50]
References
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- ^ Haflidason, Almar (April 10, 2002). "Film of the Damned: The Tragedy Behind Queen of the Damned". BBC Online. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
- ^ McNary, Dave (August 7, 2014). "Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles Takes Flight at Universal". Variety. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ Gallagher, Brian (May 5, 2016). "Interview with the Vampire Remake Script Is Finished". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ Jones, Mike (May 5, 2016). "New Mutants Director Offers Interview With The Vampire Update". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on May 28, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ Slead, Evan (November 26, 2016). "Anne Rice Plotting The Vampire Chronicles TV Series Adaptation". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 29, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (April 28, 2017). "Vampire Chronicles Series in Development at Paramount TV, Anonymous Content". Variety. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
- ^ Brockington, Ariana (January 12, 2018). "Bryan Fuller Joins The Vampire Chronicles TV Series". Variety. Archived from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
- ^ Petski, Denise (July 17, 2018). "Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles in the Works at Hulu". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ^ a b Schneider, Michael (December 20, 2019). "Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles No Longer at Hulu; Is Being Shopped Elsewhere". Variety. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- ^ a b c Otterson, Joe (May 13, 2020). "Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, Lives of the Mayfair Witches Rights Land at AMC". Variety. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ de los Reyes, Lisa (December 12, 2021). "Anne Rice, Author and Screenwriter of Interview With the Vampire, Dies at 80". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ "Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire is #1 with Fans on All Platforms". AMC Networks. October 7, 2022. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ Oddo, Marco Vito (July 23, 2022). "AMC's Interview with the Vampire Series to Premiere Just in Time for Halloween". Collider. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Scherer, Jenna (January 4, 2023). "Mayfair Witches Is a Dull Expansion of AMC's Anne Rice Universe". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ Loyalkaspar [@loyalkaspar] (October 11, 2022). "While crafting logos for #InterviewWithTheVampire and the #ImmortalUniverse". Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023 – via Instagram.
- ^ "North America Awards Winners Guide Press Kit 2023". Promax Awards. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ "Anne Rice's Interview With The Vampire". Zealot Inc. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (June 26, 2024). "Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire Renewed For Season 3 At AMC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ "AMC Networks - Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire". AMC Studios International. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ "AMC Networks Unveils Premiere Timing, New Castings and More for its Expanding Anne Rice Immortal Universe". AMC Networks. February 6, 2024. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ @Immortal_AMC (May 26, 2024). "The legacy continues. #MayfairWitches returns to @AMC_TV and @AMCPlus in 2025" (Tweet). Retrieved May 27, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Mayfair Witches S2". Louisiana Entertainment. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Rice, Lynette (June 11, 2024). "'Anne Rice's The Talamasca': AMC Greenlights Third Series From Famed Author About Secret Society". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ a b c "AMC Networks Expands Successful Content Room Originals Strategy to All Formats and Platforms". AMC Networks. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (June 24, 2021). "Interview With the Vampire Series a Go at AMC". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- ^ Ingram, Hunter (November 13, 2022). "Interview with the Vampire Finale: Show Creator, Stars Dissect That 'Heartbreaking' Change to Anne Rice's Book and the Appearance of [SPOILER]". Variety. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
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- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 13, 2021). "Interview with the Vampire: Sam Reid to Play Lestat in AMC Series Based on Anne Rice's Book". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
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- ^ Petski, Denise (August 25, 2021). "Interview with the Vampire: Bailey Bass to Play Claudia in AMC Series Based on Anne Rice's Book". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (March 31, 2023). "AMC's Interview with the Vampire Announces a Season 2 Recast". TVLine. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ Petski, Denise (March 14, 2023). "Ben Daniels Joins Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ Dela Paz, Maggie (July 28, 2023). "Interview with the Vampire Star Teases a 'New Partner' for Louis in Season 2". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ "AMC Networks Builds on Successful Digital Originals Strategy with Full Slate of New and Returning Shows" (Press release). AMC Networks. April 6, 2022. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
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- ^ a b Mitovich, Matt Webb (December 1, 2021). "Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches Series Ordered at AMC, to Follow Launch of Interview With the Vampire in 2022". TVLine. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (December 1, 2021). "Anne Rice's Lives of the Mayfair Witches Gets Series Order, Joins Interview with the Vampire on AMC". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
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- ^ Otterson, Joe (March 16, 2022). "Alexandra Daddario to Star in Mayfair Witches Series at AMC (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
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- v
- t
- e
The Vampire Chronicles |
|
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New Tales of the Vampires |
|
Ramses the Damned |
|
Lives of the Mayfair Witches |
|
Christ the Lord |
|
Songs of the Seraphim |
|
The Wolf Gift Chronicles |
|
Single novels |
|
As Anne Rampling |
|
As A. N. Roquelaure |
|
- Exit to Eden (1994)
- Interview with the Vampire (1994)
- Queen of the Damned (2002)
- The Young Messiah (2016)
| |
Immortal Universe |
|
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- Lestat (2006)