The following contains spoilers for Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire Season 1, Episode 1, "In Throes of Increasing Wonder..." streaming on AMC+.

Interview With the Vampire is the first of Anne Rice's iconic stories in AMC's Immortal Universe, and its first episode teases another program joining the canon, The Mayfair Witches. The show isn't a direct remake of the source material or the 1994 movie. Instead, Louis makes another contact with reporter Daniel Malloy for a second interview -- a better interview.

With the first installation of The Mayfair Witches premiering in January, AMC seems eager to establish its extended gothic universe. Unsurprisingly, a network this dedicated already renewed Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire for a second season. If what's revealed in the first episode and trailer holds up, fans shouldn't be surprised when The Mayfair Witches gets a multi-season run, too.

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Vampires Aren't the Only Ones Hanging Around New Orleans

anne rice interview with the vampire lestat louis new orleans

The bloody adaptation of Anne Rice's novel rivals True Blood as the incumbent sexy, dangerous vampire program. The story justifies its changes by writing off Malloy's first interview as a drug-addled fever dream. It didn't need to since adaptations are meant to adapt rather than duplicate, but the decision set up timeline differences for Louis and Lestat. The most important aspect of this change is adapting the story and the Mayfair Witches' story so that they may exist simultaneously in the same universe. Likewise, the New Orleans-based Mayfair Witches are bound to make changes to appease the timeline for AMC's extended universe.

Finally aligned in the same time, place, and universe, Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire has opportunities to reference other properties in the Immortal Universe. Before discovering Lestat's vampire nature, Louis tries to integrate him into his social group. Before Louis ever meets the vampire Lestat, audiences get a glimpse of his home life during a family breakfast. The meal comes with a heated discussion regarding Louis' sister's wedding and her decision to participate in the old marriage tradition of jumping the broom. Louis' passionate Catholic brother voices his displeasure at her decision and suggests she pick up her broom from the Mayfair Sisters' home, thus connecting their world to the chilling upcoming series.

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The most likely reason Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire referenced the Mayfair Witches so early is to establish how interconnected the extended universe will be. As more episodes of Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire come out, the impact of Lestat's and Louis' actions may ripple through New Orleans and impact the lives of the Mayfair coven. After all, Paul did say the Mayfair house was just down the street from the de Pointe manor. The impact of this proximity may manifest as minor Easter eggs in each streaming broadcast. But there's potential for the universe to have more Marvel and DC-style crossovers as it pushes forward. Hopefully, the showrunners will treat crossovers cautiously to avoid making their shows confusing and convoluted.

AMC has big shoes to fill after Anne Rice's untimely death in 2021. It's nice to see it take that responsibility seriously with the first series. Of course, it helps that her son Christopher Rice remains on the executive production team and can help steer each drama following Anne Rice's intent. As it stands, the first episode of Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire set up an intriguing plot that subverts the source material while still paying proper homage. Undoubtedly, The Mayfair Witches will follow suit in the new year.

New episodes of Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire debut Sundays on AMC+.