Peacock has announced the main cast of Vampire Academy, its upcoming show based on the series of novels by Richelle Mead.
Being adapted for the streaming platform by Vampire Diaries creator Julie Plec, the Vampire Academy series will star Sisi Stringer (Mortal Kombat) and Daniela Nieves (Sex Appeal, Five Points) as lead characters and best friends Rose Hathaway and Princess Vasilisa "Lissa" Dragomir, respectively.
Fans of Mead's books will recall that Rose is a fiery vampire-human hybrid known as a Dhampir, while Lissa is a Royal Morai vampire who is uninterested in both her royal lineage and her impending introduction to royal society.
The series will also star Kieron Moore (Masters of the Air, Sex Education) as Dhampir guardian Dimitri Belikov; André Dae Kim (Degrassi, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) as Royal Moroi vampire Christian Ozera; J. August Richards (Angel, Generation) as Moroi noble Victor Dashkov; Anita-Joy Uwajeh as Moroi vampire and politician Tatiana Vogel; and Mia McKenna-Bruce as cunning St. Vladimir's Academy student Mia Karp. Other names on the call sheet include Rhian Blundell, Jonetta Kaiser and Andrew Liner.
Plec's Vampire Academy adaptation marks the third attempt to adapt the series into another medium, following a graphic novel adaptation illustrated by Emma Vieceli and the 2014 Vampire Academy film. Directed by Mark Waters, the film starred Zoey Deutch as Rose Hathaway, Lucy Fry as Lissa Dragomir, Danila Kozlovskiy as Dimitri Belikov, and Dominic Sherwood as Christian Ozera. The film was panned by critics and viewers alike and was described by some as a lazy attempt at "Twilight-meets-Mean Girls." It currently holds a 16% Tomatometer rating and a 55% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes.
In addition to developing and serving as showrunner of The Vampire Diaries, Plec developed its spinoff series The Originals, which ran for five seasons from 2013 to 2018. She also developed a second spinoff series called Legacies, which will return to The CW for its fourth season in the 2021-2022 broadcast season.
The official synopsis for Vampire Academy reads,
In a world of privilege and glamour, two young women’s friendship transcends their strikingly different classes as they prepare to complete their education and enter royal vampire society. This serialized and sexy drama combines the elegance of aristocratic romance and the supernatural thrills of the vampire genre.
Created by Julie Plec and Marguerite MacIntyre, the Vampire Academy series has yet to set a firm premiere date. Its first season will span 10 episodes and stream on Peacock.