AMC Networks announced today the renewal of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire for a second season, ahead of the new series’ anticipated debut on AMC and AMC+ on Sunday, October 2.
A sensuous, contemporary adaptation of Rice’s revolutionary gothic novel, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire follows Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson), Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid), and Claudia’s (Bailey Bass) epic story of love, blood, and the perils of immortality, as told to journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian).
The eight-episode second season will be set in Europe with Oscar and Emmy Award-winning producer Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Halt and Catch Fire, Rectify) and showrunner Rolin Jones (Perry Mason, Friday Night Lights) executive producing.
“The scope and breadth of this show, and what Mark and Rolin have delivered, is just stupendous. They have rendered the rich and vibrant world of Anne Rice’s Interview in a wonderful way, and we’re incredibly proud. From the set build, to production design, costumes and more — no detail was overlooked,” said Dan McDermott, president of original programming for AMC Networks and AMC Studios.
He added: “This stellar cast delivers powerful performances that emotionally connect us to these characters and their humanity. We look forward to sharing the final product of this extraordinary effort with audiences in just a few short days and are thrilled that this story will continue.
“This is only the beginning of an entire Universe featuring enthralling stories and characters that capture the spirit of Anne Rice’s amazing work.”
Said Johnson: “The opportunity to revisit the passionate and shocking world of Louis, Lestat and Claudia is irresistible. We will happily walk through the doorway that AMC has so kindly opened for us and deliver a season two that takes full advantage of the wonders bestowed upon us by Anne Rice.”
Jones added: “Bulgaria. Romania. Paris. (Ah, Paris!) San Francisco. New Orleans. Dubai. The writing staff of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire is honored, humbled, and hungry to add more stamps to our vamps’ passport books. All praises be to our fearless network; we shall endeavor not to screw it up.”
The company will also launch an Interview with the Vampire Podcast, hosted by writer, comedian, and vampire enthusiast Naomi Ekperigin, with the first preview episode available today. Each week, Ekperigin will be joined by the actors and writers behind the show – unpacking the twists and turns of every episode.
Podcast episodes will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes stories from the set and writers’ room and take a deep dive into the history of the vampire genre with horror experts sharing how the vampire lore has changed and morphed over time – and what has compelled us to follow these terrifying, seductive creatures across centuries.
AMC Networks acquired the rights to Rice’s iconic works, encompassing 18 titles including The Vampire Chronicles (Order Now) and The Lives of the Mayfair Witches (Order Now) series, in 2020 with Interview as the first title to be developed and greenlit to series.
The second series, Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches, starring Alexandra Daddario, Jack Huston, Tongayi Chirisa, and Harry Hamlin and executive produced by Johnson, showrunner Esta Spalding (Masters of Sex), writer Michelle Ashford (Masters of Sex), director Michael Uppendahl and Jeff Freilich, is set to debut in January.
AMC Networks holds the comprehensive rights for this world renowned and globally coveted intellectual property to develop for its own television networks and streaming services under the AMC Studios umbrella, as well as external partner licensing, with the late Anne Rice and her son Christopher Rice serving as executive producers on all series and films.
Together, The Vampire Chronicles and The Lives of the Mayfair series have sold more than 150 million copies worldwide.
As a companion Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire series, AMC today also announced that it is launching the world’s first online boutique open only during vampire hours. Night Market, which will feature a curated collection of merchandise honoring and in the spirit of the new series, will be open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for the entire first season, beginning premiere night, Sunday, October 2.
Curated by AMC Networks’ Content Room, products available in Night Market include an array of limited-edition collaborations, apparel, and glassware, all inspired by the lush set design from the show. Items include eternal roses, bedding, sleep masks – and a one-of-its-kind branded coffin from Titan Casket.
“We’re so excited to extend the world of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire with this immersive after-dark online shopping experience,” said Kim Granito, executive vice president of integrated marketing and Content Room for AMC Networks. “Night Market’s curated selection of products and collabs will surprise and delight humans and immortals alike.”
In addition to the one-of-its-kind Titan Casket (where else would a vampire sleep?), Night Market includes items from Blissy, The Million Roses, Eternal Flame, MAGILL Los Angeles, and other specialty manufacturers.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills to cover the latest streaming, movie, TV, and game news.