AMC is going from zombies to vampires next year.

The network announced Thursday it has greenlit an adaptation of Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" to series. The show, which will debut on AMC and AMC+ in 2022, will mark the beginning of a planned franchise around Rice's works for the network.



Last May, AMC acquired the rights to both Rice's best-selling "Vampire Chronicles" and "Lives of the Mayfair Witches" book series.

Rolin Jones ("Friday Night Lights"), who has an overall deal with AMC Studios, will serve as creator, showrunner, executive producer, and writer.



Mark Johnson ("Breaking Bad," "Better Call Saul") is overseeing the development of the entire Rice catalogue as a universe and franchise for AMC. Anne and Christopher Rice are non-writing executive producers on the series.

"The challenge of adapting for television the groundbreaking and immensely compelling work of Anne Rice is both intimidating and exhilarating," Johnson said in a press release sent to Insider.

"Having previously produced films from such singular works, I recognize both the responsibility and the obligation we owe the material," Johnson added. "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."

"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 said.



"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," said McDermott. "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."

"Interview with the Vampire" was previously a 1994 film starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Kirsten Dunst.

Director Alan Taylor has boarded the “Interview With the Vampire” series at AMC, Variety has learned exclusively.

Taylor will direct the first two episodes of the upcoming series and will also serve as an executive producer on Season 1. The show, which was officially greenlit in June, is based on the Anne Rice novel of the same name.

Taylor is no stranger to AMC, having directed multiple episodes of the network’s hit drama series “Mad Men,” including the pilot. Taylor is also known for directing episodes of several other critically-acclaimed shows, including HBO’s “The Sopranos,” for which he won the Emmy for best directing for a drama series in 2007. His other TV directing credits include “Game of Thrones,” “Sex and the City,” “Six Feet Under,” “Deadwood,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “The West Wing,” and “Lost.” On the feature side, he has helmed films such as “Thor: The Dark World,” “Terminator: Genisys,” and the upcoming “Sopranos” prequel “The Many Saints of Newark.”

Rashid is a recurring character in his 20s-30s described as Louis’ companion in present day, he is primarily in the background of Louis’ mansion with his face in his tablet.