AMC is moving full-steam ahead with its Anne Rice universe, and Alexandra Daddario is getting in on the action. The Texas Chainsaw 3D star has been tapped to lead the network’s upcoming Mayfair Witches series, which is based on Rice’s The Lives of the Mayfair Witches trilogy of novels. The news was reported by Variety, who revealed that Daddario will be leading the way as Rowan.
The character of Rowan is described as “a brilliant doctor who grapples with her fate as the heir to a family of powerful witches.” The first season of the series was ordered by AMC back in December, with the network doubling down on Rice’s work as they also have an Interview With The Vampire series in the works. Sadly, Rice passed away in December of 2021 but, as we can see, her work is going to live on for years and years to come. Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks, had this to say about it:
“Alexandra is a singular talent who has lit up the screen in everything she’s been in and we couldn’t be happier to have her on board leading the cast of a series that will be a centerpiece of an expanding Anne Rice universe on AMC+ and AMC. We found our Rowan and can’t wait for her to meet viewers later this year in a series being brilliantly conceived and led by Esta, Michelle and Mark.”
It is very much worth noting that some of Rice’s characters cross over between The Vampire Chronicles novels and the Mayfair Witches universe. And AMC did acquire the rights to Rice’s catalog in 2020. We’re not saying that AMC is making a shared universe, we’re just merely connecting some dots that happen to align with industry trends. As for this show, the trilogy of novels kicked off in 1990 with The Witching Hour, which was followed up with two sequels in the form of 1993’s Lasher and 1994’s Taltos.
Daddario is no stranger to genre filmmaking, having appeared in movies such as We Summon The Darkness in addition to her turn in the Texas Chainsaw franchise. She’s also no stranger to acclaimed TV, having appeared in shows such as True Detective, The White Lotus, and Why Women Kill.
The show’s first season will consist of eight episodes. For now, that is all AMC has ordered, but surely their ambitions will stretch beyond that mark should audiences turn up for Daddario and her witchy business. Mark Johnson is overseeing the development of AMC’s adaptations of Rice’s work, with the late author and her son Christopher serving as producers on the shows as well. There is no word yet on who will be adapting the books for the screen, nor has it been revealed who will be directing the series.
“Mayfair Witches” is set to debut sometime in 2022 but does not yet have a release date set.
