Peacock enrolls in Vampire Academy

NBCUniversal-owned US streamer Peacock has ordered drama series Vampire Academy, based on Richelle Mead’s collection of young-adult paranormal romance novels.

Julie Plec (photo: Gage Skidmore)

Told over six books, the story is set in a world of privilege and glamour, where the friendship of two young women transcends their strikingly different classes as they prepare to complete their education and enter royal vampire society.

Peacock’s adaptation will be produced by Universal Television and written, exec produced and showrun by Julie Plec (The Vampire Diaries) and her long-time collaborator Marguerite MacIntyre.

Also exec producing the 10-part series are Universal Television’s exec VP of drama development Emily Cummins, Don Murphy, Susan Montford, Deepak Nayer and Jillian DeFrehn.

“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.

Lisa Katz, president of scripted content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, added: “Julie Plec created one of the biggest fan-favourite 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 bingeable, enthralling dramas and we know Vampire Academy will keep Peacock viewers right on the edge of their seats.”