Seven years ago, the movie Vampire Academy (watch it HERE), based on a series of novels by Richelle Mead, was released to theatres… and not many people really seemed to care to see it, or to like the movie if they did see it. According to Rotten Tomatoes, only 16% of the film's reviews were positive (our own Chris Bumbray gave it a 2/10 review), and according to Box Office Mojo it made just 15.6 million dollars worldwide. But the Peacock streaming service clearly believes in the source material, as they have given a straight-to-series order to a show based on the novels.
They also, understandably, believe in showrunner Julie Plec, who has previous success with vampire shows. She co-created The Vampire Diaries, which ran for multiple seasons and led to two spin-offs. Plec's longtime collaborator Marguerite MacIntyre will be co-showrunner on Vampire Academy. Plec and MacIntyre are also executive producing alongside Don Murphy, Susan Montford, Deepak Nayar, and Jillian Defrehn.
Set in a world of privilege and glamour, Vampire Academy follows two young women’s friendship that 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.
The first season of Vampire Academy is set to run for 10 episodes. Plec had this to say about the project:
When I signed my new deal with Universal Television, they asked what project I had always been dying to make and my immediate answer was Vampire Academy."
Lisa Katz, president of scripted content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, added:
Julie Plec created one of the biggest fan-favorite universes with The Vampire Diaries and its spinoff series The Originals and Legacies, and we are excited to deliver this passionate audience a brand-new story on Peacock. Julie is known for binge-able, enthralling dramas and we know Vampire Academy will keep Peacock viewers right on the edge of their seats."
And Erin Underhill, president of Universal TV, said:
From The Vampire Diaries to The Originals, Julie has mastered captivating audiences with memorable characters, compelling storylines and delicious escapism. Vampire Academy delivers them all! We are very excited to see Julie’s ambitious and creative vision of this distinct world come to life, and can’t wait to share the series with Peacock viewers. I have no doubt fans will love what she’s cooked up."
Directed by Mean Girls' Mark Waters from a screenplay by his brother Daniel Waters (who has some awesome credits on his filmography: Heathers, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, Hudson Hawk, Batman Returns, Demolition Man), the Vampire Academy movie starred Zoey Deutch, Lucy Fry, Danila Kozlovskiy, Gabriel Byrne, Dominic Sherwood, Olga Kurylenko, Sarah Hyland, Cameron Monaghan, Sami Gayle, Ashley Charles, Claire Foy, and Joely Richardson.