FX unleashes the first trailer for What We Do In the Shadows TV series

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Let the age-old battle between vampires and swearwolves rage on!

At long last, FX has set a premiere date of Wednesday, March 27 at 10 PM for the network's WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS TV series. Based on the feature film of the same name from Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, the upcoming show was created by Clement and will feature 10 documentary-style episodes chronicling the lives of four vampires who've been at each other's throats while living together for hundreds of years in New York's foul armpit, Staten Island. The newest version of Clement's vampire comedy stars Matt Berry, Kayvan Novak, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén and Mark Proksch. 

As per FX's description of WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, the self-appointed leader of the group is Nandor The Relentless (Novak), a great warrior and conqueror from the Ottoman Empire, who has taken the helm of the group despite many of his Old World tactics resulting in what some might politely refer to as bupkis. Next is the British vampire Laszlo (Berry) – a bit of a rogue and a dandy and a fop, he might say. He’s a lover of mischief and a great soirée, but not as much as he loves seeing Nandor fail miserably in every attempt. As we make our way through the coven, we meet Nadja (Demetriou): the seductress, the temptress, the vampiric Bonnie to Laszlo’s Clyde. Her wisdom and provocative tales from times past allow us insight into the many ups and downs of living an immortal life.

Also shacking up in the vampire household is Guillermo (Guillén), Nandor’s familiar (a.k.a. servant/protector during the daylight hours), who wants nothing more than to be made a real vampire just like his master. Also creeping through the darkest corners of the manor is Colin Robinson (Proksch), an energy vampire and day-walker of sorts — he feasts on humans, but not on their blood. A frequent visitor is Nadja’s new friend, “Jenna” (Beanie Feldstein), a student at a nearby community college. She loves LARPing, boys, and art history, and for some reason has been rather confused lately as to why it is she so ravenously craves the flesh of the living.

The show kicks off when the group gets an unexpected visit from their dark lord and leader, Baron Afanas. Upon Baron's arrival, the rag-tag group of life-leechers are reminded of a task that was put to them over a hundred years ago – establish total dominion over the New World. With the pressure being on to complete their master's loafty command, the vampires hire a camera crew to document their every step toward victory over the world and its delicious inhabitants.

From what I can gather after watching the new trailer, the TV show looks to re-tread a bit of old ground from Clement and Waititi's 2014 original comedy, while also introducing new characters, gags, and locales to the concept. While some will undoubtedly feel the absence of the film's original vampire trio – Viago, Deacon and Vladislav – it's to be hoped that this long-form version of WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS will illicit just as many laughs from its audience as the hapless vampires do screams from their dim-witted victims.

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS will rise from the grave for their FX premiere on Wednesday, March 27 at 10 PM on FX