The Witchy World of Anne Rice: A Look into the Adaptations

Anne Rice is a renowned author known for her vampire novels. However, in recent years, she has ventured into the realm of witches. Rice's witch adaptation started with the release of "The Witching Hour," the first book in her Lives of the Mayfair Witches series. This series focuses on the powerful Mayfair family, who possess supernatural abilities and are deeply entangled with witchcraft. The Witching Hour follows the story of Rowan Mayfair, a neurosurgeon who is unaware of her magical heritage until she is contacted by spirits and guided into the world of witchcraft. As the series progresses, Rice takes readers on a captivating journey through the lives of various Mayfair witches, exploring their powers, struggles, and the dark forces that threaten their existence.

The whole thing was a disappointing mess and I should have known better than to get my hopes up. Anne Rice is simultaneously so simple to adapt while also extremely difficult to get right, so entrenched is the readership and fandom. To watch an Anne Rice adaptation is to be so angry you can’t even see your TV because you’re throwing shit at it. So yes, obviously, I’ll be watching season two.

The notion that Anne created this family that was so complicated and so far reaching, twisted and sort of incestuous in so many ways, it is our job to make sure that the thing has as much sort of dramatic heft as possible. The first book of the Mayfair trilogy, The Witching Hour , clocks in at a hefty pre-internet attention span of 1,056 pages, and is at its core, three books in one.

As the series progresses, Rice takes readers on a captivating journey through the lives of various Mayfair witches, exploring their powers, struggles, and the dark forces that threaten their existence. One of the reasons why Anne Rice's witch adaptation has gained popularity is her unique approach to witchcraft. Unlike the typical portrayal of witches as evil or antagonistic, Rice portrays them as complex characters with a strong connection to the supernatural world.

Mayfair Witches showrunners explain book to show changes: 'We had to make hard choices'

Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford tell EW why they combined two beloved book characters into one, how their Lasher was inspired by rock stars, and more.

Calie Schepp is an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly, where she writes the script for EW's daily What to Watch podcast and covers a plethora of pop culture. She graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

Warning: This post contains spoilers from Mayfair Witches episodes 1-4.

Adapting a beloved book for TV can be a tough task, but adapting one that's almost 1,000 pages is a whole other story. When showrunners and executive producers Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford set out to adapt Anne Rice's Lives of the Mayfair Witches for AMC, they knew they had a lot of material to draw inspiration from but little time to do it in. "We were given eight episodes for a one thousand page book," Spalding says, referring to The Witching Hour, the first book in the three-part series. "It's an absolute cornucopia of deliciousness and we had to make hard choices."

Mayfair Witches details neurosurgeon Dr. Rowan Fielding's (Alexandra Daddario) discovery that she's a witch with deadly powers and a twisted family tree. Ahead of Friday morning's announcement that the series has been renewed for season 2, EW spoke with Spalding and Ashford about how they made those hard choices (and made changes to beloved characters from the novels) and to preview a bit of what's to come in the final half of the season.

Michael + Aaron = Ciprien

In episode 1, we meet Ciprien Grieve (Tongayi Chirisa), a Talamasca agent who harnesses psychic abilities by touching people or objects. The Talamasca, comparable to the Illuminati, is a secret organization within Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches book series whose members keep watch on paranormal activity. Cip, as he's called in the show, is assigned to protect Rowan from any harm. Even though Rowan's skeptical of him at first meeting, a romance eventually blossoms.

Spalding and Ashford modeled Cip after two characters from the novel: Aaron Lightner, a member of the Talamasca, and Michael Curry, a civilian from New Orleans who falls in love with Rowan. Spalding explained that with the addition of the all-knowing spirit Lasher (Jack Huston), three male characters orbiting Rowan in the show would've been one too many.

"In a story that's eight [episodes] where you have to streamline, we really wanted Rowan to have agency," Spalding says. "And we debated long and hard whether or not to call the character Michael, because the character had so many attributes of Michael Curry." "And we didn't wanna call him Aaron, obviously," Ashford says. "So it seemed like, in a weird way, the most respectful way to proceed was to combine them and make him his own original character."

Cip wears a pair of gloves, similar to Michael in the books, to protect himself from being inundated with intense visions. "That that act of touching something and seeing memories gives real empathy to a character," Spalding says. "He has to wear the gloves because the world is so present. Touching things floods him with all kinds of people's pain, sorrow, and sadness."

Rowan rocks blonde hair and grey eyes in the books

Rowan, the 13th Mayfair witch, leaves her job as a neurosurgeon, discovers she's a witch, meets her birth mother for the first time and then watches her die right before her eyes — all within the first half of the season. Spalding and Ashford say that staying true to the color of Rowans hair and eyes was not a priority when casting the role.

"Our job was to make sure that we get the best Rowan possible," Ashford says. "For us, the requirements for Rowan we felt were much bigger than that. It had to be someone who was smart enough to be a surgeon and had a sort of mysterious quality that you would really believe that that woman would find out that she's a witch. Alex, obviously being incredibly beautiful, but also just incredibly magnetic physically, we felt like this was a great choice."

Sibling Switch: In the books, Cortland and Carlotta are a generation apart

Harry Hamlin as Cortland Mayfair and Beth Grant as Carlotta Mayfair in 'Mayfair Witches'. Alfonso Bresciani/AMC (2)

The TV series introduces Cortland Mayfair (Harry Hamlin) and Carlotta Mayfair (Beth Grant) as brother and sister, when in the books they're a generation apart. Similar to the condensing of Michael and Aaron into Ciprien, Ashford says that making the family as concentrated and tight as possible seemed to work best dramatically.

"You say brother or sister and immediately the audience has a visceral reaction, like oh, I know what that's like," she explains. "The notion that Anne created this family that was so complicated and so far reaching, twisted and sort of incestuous in so many ways, it is our job to make sure that the thing has as much sort of dramatic heft as possible."

Spalding adds, "And the primal relationships that exist between siblings, the rivalry, jealousies, and so on. We are trying to find ways to make these connections between characters."

Lasher, the all-knowing. rock star?

An evil spirit called Lasher has haunted the Mayfair family for generations, seducing the witches and using their powers for his own sinister motives. While not much about Lasher is really changed from book to show, Spalding revealed that they came to cast Huston because he had a certain rock 'n roll je ne sais quoi.

"How are you gonna have somebody who's both present and not present, who's seductive, but also evil? What does this person live like in a human body? And we would always talk about rock stars. The way a rockstar walks into a room and the air kind of bristles with the knowledge that that being is there, that's how Lasher would be in the Mayfair family. When we met Jack, we thought he has the most extraordinarily warm, charismatic, amazing presence, it felt like our Lasher had stepped in front of us."

Huston started his journey of transforming into Lasher by first nailing down the voice. "I think that was one of his ways into the character," Ashford says. "He found a really, very specific voice that transcends, it does feel sort of otherworldly."

Spalding reveals that we'll be hearing various accents from the dashing demon as the season progresses, including a Scottish accent that she says Huston modeled after a friend of his.

What's to come is under lock and key

The bond between Lasher and Rowan's late mother Deirdre (Annabeth Gish) is represented by a key-shaped gold necklace adorned with emeralds. The piece had been worn by generations of Mayfair witches in allegiance to Lasher, and in episode three we see Carlotta lock her maid Delphine in the basement with the necklace, only to find that Lasher kills her and gifts the necklace to Rowan. In episode 4, Carlotta sees Rowan wearing the key around her neck and sets her own dining room ablaze, locking herself and Rowan in.

The full significance of the necklace is still a mystery to viewers, but to readers of the books there's been an obvious visual change. The jewelry was originally just an emerald, not a key. When asked why the switch was made, Spalding hinted "that question will be very definitively answered in episode 6."

Until then, new episodes of Mayfair Witches stream Thursdays on AMC+ and air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

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On first impression, AMC’s Mayfair Witches appears as lush as the overgrown yard of the New Orleans bungalow where much of it takes place.

Her depiction of witchcraft is deeply rooted in history, mythology, and folklore, making it more relatable and believable for readers. Moreover, Rice's atmospheric writing style adds a sense of depth and mystery to her witch adaptation. She creates a rich and vivid world where magic intertwines with reality, drawing readers into a spellbinding narrative. Rice's attention to detail and meticulous research also shine through in her descriptions of witchcraft rituals and traditions, further enhancing the authenticity of her witches' world. In addition to the striking portrayal of witches, Rice also explores profound themes such as love, family, and morality in her witch adaptation. The Mayfair witches grapple with their abilities, their desires, and the consequences of their actions. Rice delves into the complexities of their relationships, showcasing the multifaceted nature of human emotions and the choices individuals make when faced with extraordinary circumstances. Overall, Anne Rice's witch adaptation in her Lives of the Mayfair Witches series is a captivating and thought-provoking exploration of magic, family, and the human condition. Through her rich storytelling and meticulous attention to detail, Rice brings witches to life in a way that is both compelling and enchanting. For fans of her vampire novels or those interested in the supernatural genre, this series offers a unique and enthralling experience into the realm of witches..

Reviews for "Discovering the Magic: A Review of Anne Rice's Witch Adaptations"

1. John - 1 star - I was so disappointed with the Anne Rice witch adaptation. As a longtime fan of her work, I had high expectations for this series, but it fell flat on so many levels. The casting was completely off, with actors who did not embody the essence of the characters. The storyline felt disjointed and rushed, lacking the depth and intricacies that I love about Rice's novels. Overall, it was a huge letdown and a missed opportunity to bring her amazing witches to life on screen.

2. Sarah - 2 stars - I found the Anne Rice witch adaptation to be a huge departure from the spirit of the original novels. The changes made to the storyline and characters were unnecessary and detracted from the overall appeal of the series. The pacing was slow, and the dialogue felt forced at times. I was also disappointed with the visual effects, which seemed cheap and unimpressive. It's unfortunate because the source material had so much potential, but this adaptation failed to deliver the magic that Rice's witches are known for.

3. James - 2 stars - As a fan of Anne Rice's witch novels, I was excited to see them adapted into a TV series. However, this adaptation missed the mark for me. The casting choices were questionable, with actors who lacked the chemistry and depth required to bring these complex characters to life. The plot felt disjointed and difficult to follow, and the pacing was slow, making it hard to stay engaged. Overall, it lacked the captivating and enchanting elements that make Anne Rice's novels so beloved. It was a disappointing adaptation that didn't do justice to the original source material.

4. Emma - 1 star - The Anne Rice witch adaptation was a complete letdown for me. The storyline was confusing, and the character development felt shallow. The actors seemed uninspired, lacking the passion and charisma needed to portray these vibrant witches. The visual effects were also disappointing, failing to capture the magical world that Rice had created. Overall, it was a lackluster adaptation that failed to capture the essence and allure of the original novels. I would not recommend it to fans of Anne Rice's witch series.

The Witchcraft Lore of Anne Rice's Novels: Examining the Adaptations