AMC has greenlit a second season of its drama series Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches.

The second season renewal comes as the series – the second for AMC from its growing Anne Rice Immortal Universe following its Interview With The Vampire series – debuted on January 13 as the top series premiere in the history of AMC Plus, according to the network. In its first 30 days of viewership, Mayfair Witches is delivering the most-viewed season of any series ever on AMC Plus, ahead of Interview and the final season of The Walking Dead.

The series, which follows a female neurosurgeon who discovers she’s the unlikely heir to a family of witches, stars Alexandra Daddario, Jen Richards and Harry Hamlin. The series will begin production on the second season later this year in New Orleans.

“We are thrilled with the reaction to this series, especially in the wake of the incredibly strong reception to Interview, and can’t wait to bring the fans second seasons of both series in this rich, vibrant and expanding universe based on the works of Anne Rice,” said AMC Studios and Entertainment President Dan McDermott in a statement. “In a business in which ‘nobody knows anything,’ we knew what we were hoping for in terms of building a television franchise around these remarkable characters and stories, and to see these shows arrive and captivate viewers in the way they have is so gratifying and energizing for everyone involved, and there is so much yet to come.”

Mayfair Witches is executive produced by Mark Johnson, Esta Spalding, Michelle Ashford, Michael Uppendahl, and Jeff Freilich.■

AMC Networks will turn Anne Rice's classic novel Interview With the Vampire into a new series for AMC and AMC Plus to debut in 2022, the company said Thursday.

The eight-episode series is the first project based on Rice's works after AMC acquired the rights to 18 Rice titles, including the Vampire Chronicles and Mayfair Witches series, said AMC.  The 1994 film version of Interview With The Vampire starred Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst. 

Producer Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad) will develop Interview With the Vampire as well as additional TV projects from the Rice collection. Rolin Jones (Perry Mason) will serve as executive producer for the series along with Anne and Christopher Rice. 

“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 in a statement. “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."

AMC Networks has worked out a deal to acquire the rights to Anne Rice’s literary works, The Vampire Chronicles Series and The Lives of the Mayfair Witches Series, which encompasses 18 titles, including Interview With The Vampire, The Queen of the Damned and The Witching Hour.

Anne Rice and son Christopher Rice will be executive producers on all series and films stemming from the agreement. Rolin Jones, who recently signed an overall development deal with AMC Studios, will be directly involved in developing projects based on the Anne Rice catalog.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“There is no shortage of content in today’s competitive environment, but proven IP that has captivated millions of fans around the world is something very special and rare, and that is what Anne Rice has created,” said Sarah Barnett, president of AMC Networks Entertainment Group and AMC Studios. “These remarkable stories and characters are massive in their appeal and we are privileged to take over stewardship of these legendary works and collaborate with a talent like Rolin Jones to find ways for new generations of fans to experience these worlds.”

The Rice catalog 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.

“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,” said Anne Rice. “That dream is now a reality, and the result is one of the most significant and thrilling deals of my long career.”

AMC Networks has worked out a deal to acquire the rights to Anne Rice’s literary works, The Vampire Chronicles Series and The Lives of the Mayfair Witches Series, which encompasses 18 titles, including Interview with the Vampire, The Queen of the Damned and The Witching Hour.

Anne Rice and son Christopher Rice will be executive producers on all series and films stemming from the agreement. Rolin Jones, who recently signed an overall development deal with AMC Studios, will be directly involved in developing projects based on the Anne Rice catalog.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“There is no shortage of content in today’s competitive environment, but proven IP that has captivated millions of fans around the world is something very special and rare, and that is what Anne Rice has created,” said Sarah Barnett, president of AMC Networks Entertainment Group and AMC Studios. “These remarkable stories and characters are massive in their appeal and we are privileged to take over stewardship of these legendary works and collaborate with a talent like Rolin Jones to find ways for new generations of fans to experience these worlds.”

The Rice catalog 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.

“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,” said Anne Rice. “That dream is now a reality, and the result is one of the most significant and thrilling deals of my long career.”