‘Vampire Academy’ Series Adaptation From Julie Plec & Marguerite MacIntyre In Development

Variety announced that The Vampire Diaries franchise co-creator is adapting author Richelle Mead’s beloved young adult book series Vampire Academy as a scripted live-action drama for Peacock. Plec and her long-time collaborator Marguerite MacIntyre will serve as co-showrunners on the drama, which has received a straight-to-series order at NBC Universal’s streaming platform.

Plec's co-adaptation of The Vampire Diaries became a brand-defining hit for The CW, running for eight seasons and delivering two spinoffs, The Originals (which ran for five seasons), and Legacies, which will return for its fourth cycle in the 2021-22 broadcast season on The CW.

MacIntyre, who formerly starred in Vampire Diaries, was a writer-producer on The Originals and currently a consulting producer on Legacies. Her writing credits also include Plec’s Containment, Hulu’s Casual and From Scratch.

In Vampire Academy, two young women’s friendship transcends their strikingly different classes as they prepare to complete their education and enter royal vampire society. This serialized drama combines the elegance of aristocratic romance and the supernatural thrills of the vampire genre. The first book in the series was previously adapted into a film in 2014 - which failed at the box office and failed to secure future adaptations due to poor responses among critics and fans alike. Six books were published in the series in total between 2007 and 2010.

The book series is a personal favourite of Plec’s, who is best known for co-developing the CW series adaptation of The Vampire Diaries.

“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,’” said Plec, thrilled to be adapting one of her favourite books. Maybe she'll get her long-awaited Flowers in the Attic mini-series if this goes well, especially as she's ticked Mead's books off her list.

Lisa Katz, president of scripted content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming said on this new adaptation:

“Julie Plec created one of the biggest fan-favorite universes with ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and its spin-off 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."

Erin Underhill, President, Universal TV second this, stating:

"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.”

Plec will executive produce this production under her My So-Called Company banner. Emily Cummins of My So-Called Company will also executuve produce along with Don Murphy and Susan Montford of Angry Films, Deepak Nayer, and Jillian DeFrehn. Universal Television will produce. Plec is currently under an overall deal at the studio.

Plec and MacIntyre will adapt the novels and exec produce and serve as co-showrunners on the 10-episode series. A premiere date has not yet been determined.