AMC is formally pushing ahead with an series adaptation of Anne Rice’s “Interview With the Vampire.”
Information on the series order comes a little more than a year after Variety only detailed that AMC had procured the rights to Rice’s book series “The Vampire Chronicles” and “The Lives of the Mayfair Witches.” “Interview With the Vampire” is the first series to be greenlit out of the obtaining.
The cabler has given the series an eight episode request with an eye toward a 2022 introduction on both AMC and AMC Plus. Rolin Jones will serve as writer, executive producer, and showrunner on the series under his general deal with AMC Studios. Imprint Johnson will chief produce under his general deal with AMC Studios too, with Anne Rice and Christopher Rice likewise executive producing.
Johnson has a long history with AMC Networks, having filled in as a leader maker on shows like “Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul,” “Halt and Catch Fire,” and “Rectify.” In addition to executive producing “Interview with the Vampire,” he will lead AMC’s endeavors to foster the full Anne Rice collection for streaming and television. “Interview with a Vampire” was recently adjusted into an element in 1994 featuring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst and Antonio Banderas.
“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,” said Dan McDermott, president of original programming for AMC Networks and AMC Studios. “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.”
The acquisition deal included 18 titles between the two book series, which together have sold in excess of 150 million duplicates around the world. Among the books in the two series are “Interview with the Vampire,” “Queen of the Damned,” “The Vampire Lestat,” and “The Witching Hour.”
“The challenge of adapting for television the groundbreaking and immensely compelling work of Anne Rice is both intimidating and exhilarating,” Johnson said. “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.”
Anne Rice is a New York Times Bestselling author of more than 30 books. Her first novel, “Interview with the Vampire,” was published in 1976 and has gotten one of top rated books worldwide A New York Times Bestselling and grant winning novelist by his own doing, Christopher Rice has worked together with Anne on numerous novels. Along with his creating accomplice, individual New York Times Bestselling author Eric Shaw Quinn, he runs the podcast and video network TDPS.
“In 1973, a grieving mother and extraordinary writer began what would become the finest Vampire novel ever written (all respects to Mr. Stoker),” Jones said. “Nearly fifty 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 re-unite them with you.”