Mayfair Witches Season 2 Cast Tease New Characters, Locations, and More Representation at New York Comic Con
Mayfair Witches season 2 picks up with Rowan Mayfair (Alexandra Daddario), who’s now dealing with the aftermath of giving birth to her ex-lover-turned-demon-baby, Lasher (Jack Huston). As she navigates this shocking new chapter, she’s torn — wondering if Lasher is as innocent as he appears or a lurking monster. She has her own agenda too, hoping to use him as a power source for healing, but finds herself stuck between fulfilling her purpose and protecting her family. Pop Culture Planet learned more about what to expect in season 2 at their New York Comic Con press conference.
New faces will be joining the Mayfair Witches cast, including Alyssa Jirrels as Moira Mayfair. Moira's arrival is intense. She's got her own power as a mind reader and she's wary of her family, especially with her sister’s recent death. As “the most anti-Mayfair Mayfair there is,” Moira left home long ago and returns only to uncover the truth behind her sister’s passing. Jirrels described Moira as seeing Rowan as “power-hungry and not particularly truthful.” However, she hinted that halfway through the season, Moira and Rowan’s relationship might be on the mend: “The more you get to know somebody, the more you get to empathize with where they came from.”
This season also brings new settings, as executive producer Esta Spalding takes the show to Scotland, a significant shift from New Orleans. “It was incredibly magical to be shooting in this new landscape,” said Spalding. She was inspired by folk horror, channeling that eerie atmosphere to push the horror boundaries and blending modern horror with its historical roots for a scarier and weirder season.
Though the show evolves, it remains anchored by Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches novels. Spalding shared that a key challenge in adapting the book was opening the season with a believable, rapid development for Lasher within a 43-minute episode. While the season diverges in places, it honors stories like Cortland’s father Julian’s backstory and Lasher’s medieval past. “We tried to be true to some big parts of the book while updating the story for today’s characters,” Spalding said, including changes like reworking Lasher as a more innocent, bewildered character.
One of the season’s most notable updates is the representation brought by Tongayi Chirisa, who plays a character contributing a Black perspective within the fantasy-horror genre. Reflecting on how he draws from his own experiences, Chirisa explained, “I can only draw from what I know.” He wants his portrayal to resonate with the audience in a real and impactful way. Executive producer Mark Johnson acknowledged Anne Rice’s original family was not diverse, but he emphasized that “we have a responsibility to write the world we live in and the world we’d like to live in.”
Rounding out the excitement, we have some intriguing new additions to the cast. Ted Levine, known for his chilling role in Silence of the Lambs, is joining this season, and Harry Hamlin assures fans that Levine will deliver exactly what we expect based on his portrayal of Buffalo Bill. Additionally, Hocus Pocus star Thora Birch will make a guest appearance as Gifford Mayfair. Spalding also hinted at a mysterious introduction to the world of the Talamasca featuring a surprise character.
Mayfair Witches returns to AMC+ on January 5.
