‘I was taken with the idea of a spy show': How ‘Talamasca: The Secret Order' showrunners expand Anne Rice's Immortal Universe in new AMC series

Yahoo

26-06-2025

Anne Rice's Immortal Universe is expanding this fall when Talamasca: The Secret Order debuts on AMC.
This week, the network hosted an intimate early screening of the first episode, followed by a Q&A with showrunners Mark Lafferty and John Lee Hancock (who also directs the pilot). The series, slated to premiere in October, is set within the richly detailed world Rice created, though it deviates from being a direct adaptation of any singular book. Instead, it explores the mysterious Talamasca organization — a recurring but enigmatic presence in Rice's novels.
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Hancock, best known for dramas like The Blind Side, Saving Mr. Banks, and The Little Things, admits he didn't know much about the Immortal Universe when he was approached for the project. "My first thought was that [they] had probably called the wrong number and needed a different writer," he joked. "At that point, I'd only read Interview With the Vampire, and I liked it a lot. I said, 'I don't really do witches or vampires or ghosts. If you look at the movies that I've written and directed, they're not in that genre at all.' But I was taken with it."
"I was taken with the idea of a spy show," Hancock continued. "We can mix in a vampire or witch every once in a while, that's cool too. But I wanted it to be a grounded show from a skeptic's point of view, because I'm a skeptic. I'm not the first one in line for a vampire movie or [TV] show. I probably will be now, but at the time, certainly not."
Hancock's skepticism shapes the narrative of the show's lead character, Guy Anatole (played by Nicholas Denton), who serves as the entry point into the world of the Talamasca for viewers both familiar with and new to Rice's universe. Hancock emphasized that Guy is finding himself in a world where nothing is as it seems. From childhood, his entire life has been curated by the Talamasca without his knowledge, and he must navigate how the truth of who he is intersects with the organization's shadowy goals. Hancock describes his vision for Guy as an 'existential' story of personal discovery.
For fans who are already familiar with the Talamasca from Rice's novels, this fresh perspective promises to explore the organization in greater depth. And for newcomers who might be reluctant to explore witches and vampires, the spy thriller setup offers an intriguing access point into the Immortal Universe.
While many intriguing topics were raised, ranging from the casting process to the series' globetrotting production, the Q&A offered a glimpse into the creativity, challenges, and ambitions driving this new project. Below, we break down the standout moments from the interview and what they mean for the fans eagerly anticipating this fresh spin on the Immortal Universe.
Mark Lafferty shared fascinating details about the challenges of expanding the Talamasca organization's scope beyond its initial portrayal in Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches. In previous series, the Talamasca appears as a smaller operation, almost like a regional office based in New Orleans. But for Talamasca: The Secret Order, the organization's scale needed to reflect its power and influence across the world.
Early development involved brainstorming ways to create a globetrotting thriller, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and internal politics within the Talamasca itself. Hancock envisioned the narrative starting in New York before moving to London — a plan that seemed ambitious for television budgets. Lafferty recalled, 'When I first met [John], I was like, 'You don't understand, man. In television...I know you're used to fancy features, but we can't do that.' And he was like, 'We're going to do it.' And he was right.'
Production eventually landed in Manchester, which doubled beautifully for London's darker, dirtier aesthetic and even helped recreate aspects of New York. Lafferty and Hancock revealed how the city's old textile mills, canals, and decrepit buildings imbued a grounded, tactile feel to the show's sets and atmosphere. "I think that if we had shot in London, the show would've looked worse," Lafferty said. "I think we ended up in the exact right place, just by the dint of really smart people at AMC who forced our hand.
Great characters are at the heart of Talamasca, and Hancock and Lafferty spent significant time discussing the casting process and its integral role in shaping the characters. Nicholas Denton's casting as lead Guy Anatole stood out as a highlight. Hancock described Denton as the perfect 'everyman' who could embody Guy's skepticism and existential journey: 'We needed this everyman to take us into the Anne Rice tent...someone people don't know but can immediately connect with.'
David Gennard/AMC
Meanwhile, Elizabeth McGovern's portrayal of Helen — a complex, long-time member of the Talamasca — was another major victory in casting. Hancock praised McGovern's ability to portray layered characters who can exude quiet dependability while keeping audiences guessing about their intentions. Helen, as Hancock teased, is 'married to the Talamasca,' her life completely intertwined with its mission — but her motivations remain opaque, her words laden with half-truths.
David Gennard/AMC
The cast also features Jason Schwartzman and Bill Fichtner, whose respective vampire roles appear on opposite ends of the thematic spectrum. Schwartzman plays a sequestered, melancholic vampire living in The Dakota penthouse in New York City, while Fichtner's character Jasper is a grittier, gonzo vampire inspired by Austin, Texas's outlaw culture. Hancock humorously described Jasper as 'middle class and pissed off at the caste system of vampires.'
David Gennard/AMC
David Gennard/AMC
Beneath the layers of spy intrigue and supernatural drama, Lafferty reinforced that the series revolves around one central theme: family. From broken bonds to new beginnings, Talamasca is about the messy, painful, and rewarding aspects of searching for connection. Guy's journey, in particular, explores what happens when you realize the family you thought you had isn't what it seems, while the notion of building new families within alternative communities is central to the Talamasca's ethos.
Lafferty reflected, 'When we were figuring out what spy shows and vampire shows have in common ... it's about people searching for family, ... whether it's their actual family or the new families they're trying to create.'
In true Anne Rice fashion, Talamasca: The Secret Order is designed to subvert expectations at every turn. Hancock described his focus on making the vampires in this show different from traditional depictions. 'So many vampires are operatic with music and capes and velvet,' Hancock noted. 'What if instead there's a middle-class vampire giving the system the big finger? That felt unexpected — and it's pretty cool.'
Similarly, the show grounds these supernatural elements with raw humanity, leaning into themes of loneliness, mortality, betrayal, and belonging over clichés of gothic romance. It feels refreshingly distinct from typical vampire dramas — a series that embraces the shadows of Anne Rice's storytelling while shining a light on new dimensions.
With its Oct. release looming, Talamasca: The Secret Order aims to draw fans of Anne Rice while appealing to new audiences who may not be predisposed to witches and vampires. For longtime Anne Rice followers, the show promises a deeper exploration of a beloved but mysterious institution. For newcomers, its spy thriller foundation and human-centered storytelling could serve as the perfect entry point into the Immortal Universe. And if they're asked for a Season 2, Lafferty and Hancock are ready: "Without giving anything away, I wouldn't necessarily say that the story is staying put in London forever — that it will move and it'll bob and weave," Lafferty revealed. "There's a lot of great questions that we get to by the end of Season 1 that demand answers in Season 2."
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