Immortal Universe Explained
Anne Rice's Immortal Universe is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on the 2020s AMC television series adaptations of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches supernatural horror novel series. The books, which originated with the 1976 novel Interview with the Vampire, follow vampires and witches in the ancient and modern world. The franchise includes two television series, Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches. A third is in development, focused on the Talamasca, a secret society in Rice's novels who investigate the paranormal.
AMC coined the term "Immortal Universe" with the October 2022 release of its Interview with the Vampire series. Notable characters include the vampires Lestat de Lioncourt and Louis de Pointe du Lac, the witch Rowan Mayfair and paranormal investigator and empath Ciprien Grieve.
History
Novels from Rice's The Vampire Chronicles were previously adapted in the films Interview with the Vampire (1994) and Queen of the Damned (2002).[1] [2] In August 2014, Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment acquired the motion picture rights to the entire Vampire Chronicles series, with producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci signed to helm the potential film franchise.[3] In May 2016, it was reported that writer–director Josh Boone and Jill Killington had completed a script adapting Rice's Interview with the Vampire (1976) and its sequel, The Vampire Lestat (1985).[4] [5]
In November 2016, Rice announced that the theatrical rights to her novels had reverted to her, and that she and her son, writer Christopher Rice, would be developing and executive producing a potential television series based on her works.[6] In April 2017, they teamed up with Paramount Television and Anonymous Content to develop a series,[7] and in early 2018, Bryan Fuller joined the project.[8] On July 17, 2018, it was announced that the series was in development at streaming service Hulu, and that Fuller had departed the production.[9] By December 2019, Hulu's rights had expired, and Rice was shopping a package combining film and TV rights to both The Vampire Chronicles and her related Lives of the Mayfair Witches series.[10] Rice was reportedly asking around $30 to $40 million, plus a $2.5 million buyout of Warner Bros.' rights, and the new owner would hold the rights in perpetuity, not just as an option.[10]
In May 2020, it was announced that AMC Studios had acquired the rights to The Vampire Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches for developing film and television projects.[11] Rice and her son would serve as executive producers on any projects developed.[11] Rice said, "It's always been my dream to see the worlds of my two biggest series united under a single roof so that filmmakers could explore the expansive and interconnected universe of my vampires and witches. That dream is now a reality, and the result is one of the most significant and thrilling deals of my long career."[11] Rice died in December 2021.[12]
AMC coined the term "Immortal Universe" with the October 2022 release of its Interview with the Vampire series.[13] [14] A second series, Mayfair Witches, debuted in January 2023.[15]
The studio created a custom font called Immortal Gothic for the franchise.[16] [17] [18]
Television series
Interview with the Vampire (2022)
See main article: Interview with the Vampire (TV series). In June 2021, it was announced that AMC had given a series order for Interview with the Vampire, a television adaptation of the first half of Rice's 1976 novel, executive produced by Rolin Jones and Mark Johnson.[19] On September 28, 2022, ahead of the series premiere, AMC renewed Interview with the Vampire for a second season which covered the second half of the novel.[20] [21] Season one premiered on AMC on October 2, 2022, with an advance release three days earlier on the network's streaming service, AMC+.[22]
The series stars Sam Reid as 18th century French vampire Lestat de Lioncourt,[23] Jacob Anderson as his lover, Louis de Pointe du Lac,[24] Eric Bogosian as modern-day journalist Daniel Molloy,[25] and Assad Zaman as ancient vampire Armand.[26] Teenage vampire Claudia is portrayed by Bailey Bass in season one,[27] and by Delainey Hayles in season two.[28] New characters introduced in season two include Ben Daniels as the vampire Santiago,[29] and Roxane Duran as Madeleine.[30]
In the story, rakish vampire Lestat comes to 1910 New Orleans and seduces brothel owner Louis, who consents to being made a vampire himself. But Louis struggles with the killing of, and isolation from, humans that his survival now requires, and he grows apart from Lestat. Louis forms a bond with young vampire Claudia, but she proves to be impulsive and reckless, endangering their already fragile family unit.
Ancillary material to the first season of Interview with the Vampire included Obsessed with the Vampire, a digital post-show discussion about each new episode, and a podcast in which host Naomi Ekperigin is joined by the actors and writers from the series.[31] [32]
Mayfair Witches (2023)
See main article: Mayfair Witches. In December 2021, it was reported that AMC had given a series order for Mayfair Witches, a television adaptation of Rice's 1990 novel The Witching Hour, written and executive produced by Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford, and executive produced by Mark Johnson.[33] [34] The Interview with the Vampire series was already in production, but had not yet aired.[33] [34] Mayfair Witches premiered on AMC and AMC+ on January 8, 2023.[15] On February 3, 2023, AMC renewed the series for a second season.[35]
The series stars Alexandra Daddario as neurosurgeon Rowan Mayfair,[36] Harry Hamlin as wealthy patriarch Cortland Mayfair,[37] Tongayi Chirisa as Talamasca agent and empath Ciprien Grieve,[38] and Jack Huston as the malevolent spirit Lasher.[39] [40] Recurring roles include Annabeth Gish as Rowan's birth mother Deirdre Mayfair, Beth Grant as Rowan's great aunt Carlotta Mayfair, Erica Gimpel as Rowan's adopted mother Ellie Mayfair and Jen Richards as Cortland's daughter Jojo Mayfair.[38]
In the story, Rowan is shocked to learn she is the heiress to a dynasty of powerful witches haunted by a sinister entity called Lasher. As she uncovers the secrets of her new family and learns her true nature, she is surveilled, and soon assisted, by an agent of a mysterious organization called the Talamasca.
The Talamasca (2025)
In April 2023, it was announced that AMC was developing a third Immortal Universe series focused on the Talamasca, a secret society featured in Rice's Vampire Chronicles and Mayfair Witches series.[41] [42] In June 2024, it was reported that AMC had greenlit the series, titled Anne Rice's The Talamasca, set to be written and executive produced by showrunners John Lee Hancock and Mark Lafferty.[43] Principal photography for the first season will begin in the fall of 2024 in Manchester, England. The season comprises six episodes, set to premiere in 2025.
Future series
In April 2023, AMC announced The Night Island, a six-part short-form digital series written by Jonathan Ceniceroz. Centered on a luxury resort for vampires featured in Rice's 1988 novel The Queen of the Damned, the series will follow a pair of burglars attempting to steal a painting from the island who are unaware of the supernatural nature of its inhabitants.[44]
Notes and References
- News: Maslin . Janet . Janet Maslin . November 11, 1994. Film Review: Interview with the Vampire; Rapture and Terror, Bound by Blood. The New York Times. live. April 17, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20101114032146/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/11/movies/film-review-interview-with-the-vampire-rapture-and-terror-bound-by-blood.html. 14 November 2010.
- Web site: Film of the Damned: The Tragedy Behind Queen of the Damned. BBC Online. Almar. Haflidason. April 10, 2002. August 16, 2022. August 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220816154018/https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/04/10/making_queen_of_the_damned_article.shtml. live.
- Web site: Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles Takes Flight at Universal . Dave . McNary . . August 7, 2014 . August 10, 2014 . November 15, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171115164443/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/anne-rices-vampire-chronicles-takes-flight-at-universal-1201278069/ . live .
- Web site: Interview with the Vampire Remake Script Is Finished . . Brian . Gallagher . May 5, 2016 . May 28, 2016 . May 29, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160529043139/http://movieweb.com/interview-with-vampire-remake-script/ . live .
- Web site: New Mutants Director Offers Interview With The Vampire Update . . Mike . Jones . May 5, 2016 . May 28, 2016 . May 28, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160528220647/http://screenrant.com/interview-vampire-josh-boone-update/ . live .
- News: Anne Rice Plotting The Vampire Chronicles TV Series Adaptation. Entertainment Weekly. Evan. Slead. November 26, 2016. May 27, 2020. November 29, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161129111912/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/11/26/anne-rice-plotting-vampire-chronicles-tv-series-adaptation. live.
- Web site: Vampire Chronicles Series in Development at Paramount TV, Anonymous Content. Variety. Joe. Otterson. April 28, 2017. April 28, 2017. April 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170428195344/http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/vampire-chronicles-series-paramount-tv-anonymous-content-1202402750/. live.
- Web site: Bryan Fuller Joins The Vampire Chronicles TV Series. Ariana. Brockington. January 12, 2018. May 9, 2018. Variety. May 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200526070251/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/bryan-fuller-the-vampire-chronicles-1202662596/. live.
- Web site: Petski . Denise . Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles in the Works at Hulu . . July 17, 2018 . July 17, 2018 . July 17, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180717171955/https://deadline.com/2018/07/anne-rice-the-vampire-chronicles-hulu-paramount-tv-anonymous-content-1202427800/ . live .
- Web site: Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles No Longer at Hulu; Is Being Shopped Elsewhere. Michael. Schneider. Variety. December 20, 2019. May 15, 2020. March 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308110638/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/anne-rice-vampire-chronicles-hulu-dead-1203449088/. live.
- Web site: Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, Lives of the Mayfair Witches Rights Land at AMC. Joe. Otterson. Variety. May 13, 2020. May 14, 2020. June 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210625022750/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/vampire-chronicles-series-lives-of-the-mayfair-witches-amc-anne-rice-1234605490/. live.
- de los Reyes . Lisa . Anne Rice, Author and Screenwriter of Interview With the Vampire, Dies at 80 . . December 12, 2021 . December 12, 2021 . December 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211212133124/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/anne-rice-dead-author-interview-with-the-vampire-1235061422/ . live .
- Web site: October 7, 2022 . Anne Rice Interview with the Vampire is #1 with Fans on All Platforms . December 29, 2022 . . December 29, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221229071947/https://www.amcnetworks.com/press-releases/anne-rices-interview-with-the-vampire-is-1-with-fans-on-all-platforms/ . live .
- Web site: Oddo . Marco Vito . AMC's Interview with the Vampire Series to Premiere Just in Time for Halloween . . July 23, 2022 . July 25, 2022 . October 11, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221011205210/https://collider.com/interview-with-the-vampire-series-release-date-amc-plus/ . live .
- Web site: Mayfair Witches Is a Dull Expansion of AMC's Anne Rice Universe. January 4, 2023. The A.V. Club. Jenna. Scherer. October 19, 2023. live. May 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230514093301/https://www.avclub.com/tv-review-anne-rice-mayfair-witches-is-a-dull-adaptatio-1849943627.
- Loyalkaspar. loyalkaspar. CjlYMV7O8KZ. October 11, 2022. While crafting logos for #InterviewWithTheVampire and the #ImmortalUniverse. June 23, 2023. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/loyalkaspar/2946867932476195481_2946867927929491235. June 23, 2023. live.
- Web site: North America Awards Winners Guide Press Kit 2023. June 23, 2023. Promax Awards. June 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230623153405/https://www.promax.org/north-america-awards-winners-guide-press-kit-2023/. live.
- Web site: Anne Rice's Interview With The Vampire. June 23, 2023. Zealot Inc.. September 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220924162211/https://zealotinc.com/anne-rices-interview-with-the-vampire/. live.
- Web site: Interview With the Vampire Series a Go at AMC. The Hollywood Reporter. Lesley. Goldberg. June 24, 2021. February 2, 2023. April 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220421163507/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/interview-with-the-vampire-amc-series-anne-rice-1234973303/. live.
- Web site: Interview with the Vampire Finale: Show Creator, Stars Dissect That 'Heartbreaking' Change to Anne Rice's Book and the Appearance of [SPOILER]]. Variety. Hunter. Ingram. November 13, 2022. November 14, 2022. November 14, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221114045749/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/interview-with-the-vampire-finale-louis-kills-lestat-armand-revealed-1235429315/. live.
- Web site: Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire Renewed for Season 2 by AMC Ahead of Premiere. Deadline Hollywood. Lynette. Rice. September 28, 2022. September 28, 2022. September 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220928140123/https://deadline.com/2022/09/anne-rices-interview-with-the-vampire-renewed-season-2-1235128986/. live.
- Web site: Jirak . Jamie . Interview with the Vampire Premiere Surprise Released Early on AMC+ . Comicbook . September 29, 2022 . October 5, 2022 . October 11, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221011205210/https://comicbook.com/horror/news/interview-with-the-vampire-premiere-surprise-released-early-on-amc/ . live .
- Web site: Interview with the Vampire: Sam Reid to Play Lestat in AMC Series Based on Anne Rice's Book. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie. Andreeva. August 13, 2021. February 2, 2023. August 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210814041313/https://deadline.com/2021/08/interview-with-the-vampire-sam-reid-lestat-amc-series-anne-rice-1234813972/. live.
- Web site: Interview with the Vampire: Jacob Anderson to Play Louis in AMC Series Based on Anne Rice's Book. Deadline Hollywood . Denise. Petski. August 25, 2021. February 2, 2023. August 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210825173837/https://deadline.com/2021/08/interview-with-the-vampire-jacob-anderson-louis-amc-series-ann-rice-book-1234821704/. live.
- Web site: Eric Bogosian joins Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire for AMC . Rice . Lynette . . March 17, 2022 . March 17, 2022 . March 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220317183906/https://deadline.com/2022/03/anne-rice-interview-with-the-vampire-eric-bogosian-amc-1234981182/ . live .
- Web site: Interview with the Vampire: Assad Zaman to Play Rashid in AMC Series Based on Anne Rice's Book . Petski . Denise . . March 4, 2022 . March 4, 2022 . March 4, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220304220740/https://deadline.com/2022/03/interview-with-the-vampire-assad-zaman-rashid-amc-series-anne-rice-book-1234971262/ . live .
- Web site: Interview with the Vampire: Bailey Bass to Play Claudia in AMC Series Based on Anne Rice's Book . Petski . Denise . . August 25, 2021 . October 5, 2021 . October 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211005190836/https://deadline.com/2021/10/interview-with-the-vampire-bailey-bass-claudia-amc-series-amc-series-anne-rice-book-1234850035/ . live .
- Web site: AMC's Interview with the Vampire Announces a Season 2 Recast. TVLine. Matt Webb. Mitovich. March 31, 2023. March 31, 2023. April 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230401010427/https://tvline.com/2023/03/31/interview-with-the-vampire-season-2-recast-claudia/. live.
- Web site: Ben Daniels Joins Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. March 15, 2023. March 14, 2023. March 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230315002157/https://deadline.com/2023/03/ben-daniels-anne-rices-interview-with-the-vampire-1235297864/. live.
- Web site: Interview with the Vampire Star Teases a 'New Partner' for Louis in Season 2. Maggie. Dela Paz. July 28, 2023. Comic Book Resources. October 19, 2023. August 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230801104950/https://www.cbr.com/interview-with-the-vampire-sam-reid-louis-new-partner-s2/. live.
- Web site: AMC Networks Builds on Successful Digital Originals Strategy with Full Slate of New and Returning Shows. AMC Networks. Press release. April 6, 2022. October 20, 2023. March 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230315151209/https://www.amcnetworks.com/press-releases/amc-networks-builds-on-successful-digital-originals-strategy-with-full-slate-of-new-and-returning-shows/. live.
- Web site: Everything We Know About Anne Rice's Immortal Universe. March 15, 2023. Linda. Codega. Gizmodo. October 19, 2023. April 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230419042722/https://gizmodo.com/everything-we-know-anne-rice-immortal-universe-faq-1849832285. live.
- Web site: Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches Series Ordered at AMC, to Follow Launch of Interview With the Vampire in 2022. TVLine. Matt Webb. Mitovich. December 1, 2021. March 25, 2022. April 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220415020852/https://tvline.com/2021/12/01/anne-rices-mayfair-witches-series-amc/. live.
- Web site: Anne Rice's Lives of the Mayfair Witches Gets Series Order, Joins Interview with the Vampire on AMC. Nellie. Andreeva. Deadline Hollywood. December 1, 2021. March 22, 2022. April 22, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220422003519/https://deadline.com/2021/12/anne-rices-lives-of-the-mayfair-witches-series-order-amc-1234882619/. live.
- Web site: Mayfair Witches Renewed for Season 2 at AMC. Variety. BreAnna. Bell. February 3, 2023. February 3, 2023. October 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231003175724/https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/mayfair-witches-renewed-season-2-amc-1235511157/. live.
- Web site: Alexandra Daddario to Star in Mayfair Witches Series at AMC (Exclusive). Joe. Otterson. Variety. March 16, 2022. March 22, 2022. November 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221106221928/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/alexandra-daddario-mayfair-witches-series-amc-1235206570/. live.
- Web site: Grobar . Matt . Harry Hamlin Joins AMC's Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches as Series Regular, Boards Paramount & Endeavor Content's Tom Brady Pic 80 For Brady . Deadline Hollywood . March 23, 2022 . March 25, 2022 . September 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220919003936/https://deadline.com/2022/03/harry-hamlin-joins-anne-rices-mayfair-witches-80-for-brady-1234985295/ . live .
- Web site: Anne Rice Projects at AMC Cast Annabeth Gish, Erica Gimpel, Jen Richards, Tongayi Chirisa & More. Lynette. Rice. Deadline Hollywood. April 28, 2022. August 10, 2022. October 11, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221011205210/https://deadline.com/2022/04/anne-rice-projects-at-amc-cast-annabeth-gish-erica-gimpel-jen-richards-more-1235012195/. live.
- Web site: Jack Huston Joins AMC's Mayfair Witches as Lasher. Jennifer. Maas. Variety. May 6, 2022. August 10, 2022. October 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221018160522/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/jack-huston-mayfair-witches-lasher-amc-1235260508/. live.
- Web site: Jack Huston to Play Lasher in Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches for AMC. Denise. Petski. Deadline Hollywood. May 6, 2022. August 10, 2022. October 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221018160527/https://deadline.com/2022/05/jack-huston-lasher-anne-rices-mayfair-witches-amc-1235018005/. live.
- Web site: Anne Rice Spinoff Series about the Talamasca in the Works at AMC from John Lee Hancock. Peter. White. Deadline Hollywood. April 19, 2023. October 19, 2023. October 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231004212412/https://deadline.com/2023/04/anne-rice-spinoff-series-set-in-talamasca-in-the-works-at-amc-from-john-lee-hancock-1235330096/. live.
- Web site: AMC to Develop Talamasca Series Set in Anne Rice Universe. Joe. Otterson. Variety. April 19, 2023. October 19, 2023. June 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230615120503/https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/amc-talamasca-series-anne-rice-1235587278/. live.
- News: ‘Anne Rice’s The Talamasca’: AMC Greenlights Third Series From Famed Author About Secret Society. Rice. Lynette. June 11, 2024. Deadline Hollywood. June 11, 2024.
- Web site: Anne Rice's Immortal Universe: AMC Invites You to Night Island. Ray. Flook. May 22, 2023. Bleeding Cool. October 20, 2023. June 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230603221518/https://bleedingcool.com/tv/anne-rices-immortal-universe-amc-invites-you-to-night-island/. live.