Vampires today sure have got it easy. Gone are the days of sucking on rat’s blood and messy first kills. Today’s bloodsuckers attend learning institutions where they are taught how to control their powers and live among people.

Such is the case in the “Vampire Academy” book series by Richelle Mead. Throughout its six bestselling volumes, the series follows the relationship between 17-year-old Rose Hathaway and her vampire BFF Lissa as they attend St. Vladimir’s Academy, a school for vamps who wish to retain their humanity.

Reliance Entertainment and IM Global are now set to adapt the novels for the big screen, beginning with Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters. Mean Girls director Mark Waters has been tapped to helm the project, written by his brother and Heathers scribe Daniel Waters.

Toplining the film as Rose and Lissa are 18-year-old Beautiful Creatures star Zoey Deutch (pictured above) and Aussie newcomer Lucy Fry, respectively. Executive producer Stuart Ford told Deadline that despite being based on a young-adult series, Vampire Academy will have bite.

Ford said:

Tonally this so different from all these movies that are so solemn and serious. This is as much Mean Girls as The Hunger Games.

It is snappy, irreverent, sexy and just a lot of fun. And we got the right director for that kind of movie.

Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters goes into production in summer.

Aussie Newcomer Lucy Fry