Interview with the Vampire season 2 release updates, strike delay, and more

Updated Oct. 23, 2023– Gothic horror television series Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, or more commonly known as Interview with the Vampire, was definitely a popular addition to our watch lists in 2022. Now, we can’t wait for Interview with the Vampire season 2 on AMC!

The show is based on the books of author Anne Rice, and was created by Rolin Jones. AMC Networks purchased the rights to the novels in 2020. So it seems like the company is very confident in the series and it could be around for a long time. I’m definitely not complaining!

The first season centered around the life story of Louis de Pointe du Lac as he recounts the events of his past to journalist Daniel Molloy. We definitely can’t wait for the next television installment. Here’s everything we know about season 2 ahead of its release!

Interview with the Vampire season 2 strike delay updates

On July 17, 2023, it was announced production on Interview with the Vampire season 2 was put on pause because of the actors strike, per Deadline. The show had begun filming in April 2023 in Prague.

Then on Aug. 31, it was shared that production on the series would start once again after AMC Studios and SAG-AFTRA were able to come to an interim agreement! Deadline reports that the agreement is specific to our favorite gothic horror. It doesn’t cover all projects the studio is working on. And while AMC Networks is an “authorized company,” when it comes to the AMPTP, the network isn’t one of the studios that are part of the negotiations, the news outlet shares. So since then, the vampire show has been one of the very few projects to film during the strike.

On July 14, 2023, the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) voted to strike since the guild and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) could not come to an agreement following the expiration of contracts on June 30, 2023. One of the rules during the strike is that U.S. actors are not able to work on any existing projects. That’s why the AMC series previously had to pause production. While our favorite gothic series is filming outside of the U.S. and most of its cast aren’t American, a good number of the actors are still SAG members, according to Deadline. This is why the cameras had to stop rolling in July.

So what’s the latest news on the actors strike? Is it still going on? The answer is, yes. While the guild and studios were previously in negotiations to try and come to an agreement, that hasn’t happened yet. And unfortunately as of Oct. 12, 2023, talks between both sides has completely stopped since “industry CEOs have walked away from the bargaining table,” per SAG-AFTRA on X. The writers strike has been resolved, and writers have been able to go back to work.

Has the release date been announced by AMC?

A release date has not been announced yet. There were rumors that the show would be coming back sometime in 2024, and AMC confirmed this with the teaser trailer release at San Diego Comic-Con (watch below!). We can’t wait for the debut of the new season!

On Saturday, July 22, the series was supposed to make an appearance at San Diego Comic-Con to reveal an “exclusive, first-look access.” The panel was canceled, but that teaser trailer was still released. Check it out below:

This time around, we get one extra installment in the next chapter of the story! Season 2 will have a total of eight episodes, compared the the first season’s seven. Interview with the Vampire season 2 will be available to watch on AMC when it makes its debut, as well as on AMC+ as a streaming option. All seven episodes of season 1 are currently streaming on AMC+.

Though we don’t have an official synopsis yet, the network did share a new sneak peek video at 2023 New York Comic Con the week of Oct. 17. It features a bloody and vampire-feasting filled three minutes, as well as a one-on-one conversation between Louis and Armands. We shared the clip below:

Cast: Is Bailey Bass returning as Claudia?

We should be seeing the return of main stars and characters Jacob Anderson as Louis de Pointe du Lac, Sam Reid as Lestat de Lioncourt, Eric Bogosian as Daniel Molloy, and Assad Zaman as Rashid/Armand.

With a new season also comes some new additions! Ben Daniels has been cast as Santiago. He’s a member of the French Theatre des Vampires, who becomes suspicious of Louis and Claudia, according to Deadline. We shared the full cast list below:

• Jacob Anderson as Louis de Pointe du Lac
• Sam Reid as Lestat de Lioncourt
• Eric Bogosian as Daniel Molloy
• Assad Zaman as Rashid/Armand
• Ben Daniels as Santiago
• Delainey Hayles as Claudia (recast)

The role of Claudia, previously played by Bailey Bass, has been recast. So don’t worry, the character will be returning in the second season. She’ll just be played by another actress. Delainey Hayles will be taking on the role instead, per TVLine. Bass and AMC didn’t give an exact reason for the exit, but the actress did provide the following statement to the news outlet. We shared it below:

"Due to a variety of unforeseen circumstances, I’m unable to return to Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire for the second season. Playing Claudia has been a dream role and an incredible ride. I wish Delainey the best of luck in taking over. I cannot wait to watch."

How many The Vampire Chronicles books are there? (And where to watch other adaptations)

There are a total of 13 books by Anne Rice, starting with Interview with the Vampire of course! It’s not known just how many AMC plans to adapt yet. But based on the popularity just from the first season, we have high hopes. We shared them all below:

• Interview with the Vampire (1976)
• The Vampire Lestat (1985)
• The Queen of the Damned (1988)
• The Tale of the Body Thief (1992)
• Memnoch the Devil (1995)
• The Vampire Armand (1998)
• Merrick (2000)
• Blood and Gold (2001)
• Blackwood Farm (2002)
• Blood Canticle (2003)
• Prince Lestat (2014)
• Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis (2016)
• Blood Communion: A Tale of Prince Lestat (2018)

If you didn’t know, the first book was actually adapted as a movie before the television series. In 1994, the novel was adapted into a film with the same name. The production starred Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, Christian Slater and Kirsten Dunst. Interview with the Vampire movie is currently streaming on Paramount+.

Anne Rice’s third book, Queen of the Damned, was also adapted into a film in 2002 with the same name. The movie starred Stuart Townsend and Aaliyah and is now streaming on Hulu.

Stay tuned to Hidden Remote as we bring you updates about Interview with the Vampire season 2 on AMC!