Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches Gets Greenlit at AMC

By Patrick Cavanaugh

The works of Anne Rice have inspired a number of live-action projects, with AMC Networks confirming today that it's moving forward with an adaptation of her Lives of Mayfair Witches series of books. Arguably the most famous adaptation of Rice's work is the 1994 film Interview with the Vampire, which is part of her Vampire Chronicles series of books. Following AMC's purchase of the rights to a majority of Rice's works, next year will also see the debut of the Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire TV series, with Mayfair Witches also expected to debut in 2022.

Per press release, "Esta Spalding (Masters of Sex, On Becoming a God in Central Florida) and Michelle Ashford (Masters of Sex, The Pacific, John Adams) are both executive producers and writers of the series. Spalding, who has an overall deal with AMC Studios, will serve as showrunner. The series will focus on an intuitive young neurosurgeon who discovers that she is the unlikely heir to a family of witches. As she grapples with her newfound powers, she must contend with a sinister presence that has haunted her family for generations.

"AMC Networks last year acquired the rights to an expansive collection of Rice's iconic works, encompassing 18 titles including The Vampire Chronicles and The Lives of the Mayfair Witches series, which have delighted fans around the world. Acclaimed and award-winning film and television producer Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Halt and Catch Fire, Rectify), who also has an overall agreement with AMC Studios, is overseeing development of the full Anne Rice collection into a streaming and television universe, with Anne Rice and son Christopher Rice serving as executive producers on all series and films. Together, The Vampire Chronicles and The Lives of the Mayfair Witches series have sold more than 150 million copies worldwide.

"The Anne Rice catalog AMC acquired last year includes The Vampire Chronicles Series: Interview with the Vampire, 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 Lives Of The Mayfair Witches Series: The Witching Hour, Lasher, Taltos; and The Vampire Chronicles/The Lives Of The Mayfair Witches Crossover Novels: Merrick, Blackwood Farm, and Blood Canticle."  

"2022 will be the biggest year for original programming in the history of our company, and we are literally over the moon that it will now include the first two series in an expanding Anne Rice universe built around stories and characters that have captivated millions of fans around the world," Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks, shared in a statement. "We are also extremely fortunate to have such talented storytellers as Esta and Michelle guiding this adaptation, which will follow the first season of Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire late next year."

Spalding and Ashford said, "The world of witches has fascinated and terrified for centuries, and yet Anne Rice's particular lens on witches explored something new altogether -- women who are powerful, and often brutal, and always committed to subverting our current power structures. We are so excited to join our partners AMC and Gran Via Productions in making this mysterious and provocative world come to life."

Johnson added, "With the cornucopia of rich characters, worlds, and stories that Anne Rice has given millions upon millions of readers around the world, AMC now has the privilege of creating a multitude of fascinating, entertaining, and very distinct television series. My good fortune as an executive producer of Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire has now been more than doubled with what Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford are imagining with The Mayfair Witches. While both shows couldn't be more different, they nevertheless find themselves bound under the same bewitching and engaging umbrella."

Stay tuned for details on the Anne Rice TV series.

Are you looking forward to the new project? Let us know in the comments below or contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter to talk all things Star Wars and horror!

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