Anne Rice's INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Series Gets The Greenlight From AMC
About a year ago it was reported that AMC Networks has acquired the rights to Anne Rice’s book series The Vampire Chronicles. Well, they’ve officially announced that they are moving forward with a series based on Interview With The Vampire, which was previously adapted as a film back in 1994.
They’ve ordered an eight-episode first season and they plan to launch the series in 2022. Rolin Jones (Perry Mason) will serve as showrunner on the series. AMC veteran Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad, Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul/El Camino, Halt and Catch Fire and Rectify) will also executive produce alongside Jones. Johnson will also oversee the Vampire franchise as AMC plans to build a multiple-show universe as part of the Rice deal.
Johnson said in a statement, “The challenge of adapting for television the groundbreaking and immensely compelling work of Anne Rice is both intimidating and exhilarating. Having previously produced films from such singular works, I recognize both the responsibility and the obligation we owe the material. I strongly believe that with AMC and Rolin Jones we are equipped to meet this challenge and to thrill and entertain both the loyal Anne Rice fan and the viewer who is just now discovering her work.”
Jones added, “In 1973, a grieving mother and extraordinary writer began what would become the finest vampire novel ever written (all respects to Mr. Stoker). Nearly 50 years later we know what’s expected of us. We know how much this book and the ones that follow mean to their massive fan base. We feel you over our shoulders as we tend the Savage Garden. Louis and Lestat are coming out of hiding and we can’t wait to reunite them with you.”
Dan McDermott, president of original programming at AMC Networks and AMC Studios said, “This is a day we have been looking forward to since we acquired this legendary Anne Rice collection a little more than a year ago. This story already has millions of fans in the U.S. and around the world, we can’t wait to share this new interpretation of the classic brought to life by Rolin and Mark, as we continue to work on developing the entire collection. With The Walking Dead, this Anne Rice collection and our majority stake in Agatha Christie Limited through our own Acorn TV, we are proud to have the stewardship of three unique, fan-forward and beloved franchises and universes, which we are only just beginning to explore. We are also thrilled to have Mark, a world-class producer we have previously worked with on iconic series like Breaking Bad, Rectify, Halt and Catch Fire and Better Call Saul on board at the helm of our efforts to develop an entire Anne Rice universe, with significant aspirations for these beloved stories and characters.”
AMC also landed rights to Rice’s Mayfair Witches series as part of the deal with the author and her writer son, Christopher Rice, last year. That includes the other novels The Vampire Lestat, The Queen of the Damned, The Tale of the Body Thief, Memnoch the Devil, The Vampire Armand, Pandora, Vittorio the Vampire, Blood and Gold, Prince Lestat, Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis and Blood Communion: A Tale of Prince Lestat; The Witching Hour, Lasher, Taltos and The Vampire Chronicles/The Lives Of The Mayfair Witches crossover novels Merrick, Blackwood Farm and Blood Canticle.
AMC could use another big hit franchise. The only thing that’s keeping the network afloat right now is The Walking Dead franchise. So hopefully, this series of Vampire Chronicles shows will be a successful investment for them.
Source: THR