It seems that AMC is creating its own supernatural universe. According to Deadline, AMC is expanding Anne Rice’s (Ramses the Damned, The Wolf Gift) Cinematic Universe with new series. The new show will be the third show based on Rice’s books following Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches.
There is very little information available about this new show, but according to Deadline, the series will be set in the world of the Talamasca, a secretive organization that appeared in several of Rice’s novels. The show, still unnamed, will count on the talent of John Lee Hancock (Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, Snow White and the Huntsman) who will act as a writer and showrunner for the new series.
For those unfamiliar with the literary world of Anne Rice, the Talamasca have appeared in both The Vampire Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches. Better known as the Order of the Talamasca, this secret society has dedicated itself to researching, observing, and keeping track of the supernatural, which includes witches, spirits, vampires, and werewolves. Rice has also called them “psychic detectives.”
The news about the new show comes after the success of Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches, which have already been renewed for a second season. Both shows are produced by AMC Studios and executive produced by Mark Johnson (Better Call Saul, Halt and Catch Fire).
The president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks, Dan McDermott, has said, “We’re excited to be in active development of the next installment in this growing franchise, written and to be showrun by the incomparable John Lee Hancock. The Talamasca is one of the most intriguing elements of Rice’s works and a connective thread through so many of her stories, the standalone and crossover potential for this third series is immense.”
Mayfair Witches is based on the book series by Rice and focuses on Rowan Fielding, an intuitive young neurosurgeon who discovers that she is the unlikely heir to a family of witches. As she wraps her head around her new powers, she must contend with a sinister presence that has haunted her family for generations.
The show stars Alexandra Daddario (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Baywatch) as Rowan; Tongayi Chirisa (Another Life, The Anthrax Attacks) plays Ciprien Grieve; Jack Huston (House of Gucci, Fargo) stars as Lasher; Harry Hamlin (Clash of the Titans, 80 for Brady) who is playing Cortland Mayfair; and Beth Grant (Amsterdam, Dollface) as Carlotta.
The Interview with the Vampire series takes place in New Orleans in the early twentieth century. The story follows a successful brothel proprietor named Louis, who is Creole in this version of the story. Yet, he is an outsider mostly due to the situation surrounding his family, his late father, demanding mother, and unstable brother. In his attempt to remain a part of society, he avoids accepting his sexuality for fear this will turn him into a permanent outcast.
The cast of the show includes Sam Reid (The Newsreader, Prime Suspect: Tennison) as Lestat de Lioncourt; Jacob Anderson (Game of Thrones, Doctor Who) as Louis de Pointe du Lac; Bailey Bass (Avatar: The Way of Water, Psycho Sweet 16) as Claudia; Eric Bogosian (Billions, Succession) as Daniel Molloy, the reporter; Assad Zaman (Hotel Portofino, Apple Tree Yard) as Rashid; Kalyne Coleman (So Help Me Todd) as Grace de Pointe du Lac; Chris Stack (One Life to Live, Killer Among Us) as Tom Anderson and Christian Robinson (BMF, Third Wheel Material) as Levi.
The new show is still in pre-production and no approximate premiere date has been released. All Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches episodes are available on AMC+.