Variety reporting

Frank Darabont circles zombies

AMC attacks comic series adaptation

By CYNTHIA LITTLETON

AMC is venturing into zombie-drama territory with multi-hyphenate Frank Darabont.

Cabler is close to finalizing one of the richest development deals ever with Darabont to write and direct a series adaptation of the Image Comics graphic novel series "The Walking Dead," penned by Robert Kirkman. Gale Anne Hurd of Valhalla Motion Pictures and David Alpert of Circle of Confusion are also on board to exec produce.

Project is set among a group of zombie survivors of an apocalypse who are led by a police officer, Rick Grimes, in search of a safe place to live. Numerous editions of the "Walking Dead" graphic novels have been published since 2003.

Joel Stillerman, AMC's senior veep of programming, production and original content, said the project appealed to the cabler because of "the quality of the storytelling" in Kirkman's work. The series will stay faithful to the tone of the original novels, he said.

"This is not about zombies popping out of closets," Stillerman said. "This is a story about survival, and the dynamics of what happens when a group is forced to survive under these circumstances. The world (in 'Walking Dead') is portrayed in a smart, sophisticated way."

Stillerman noted that the cabler's annual "Fear Fest" movie showcase around Halloween is one of AMC's most popular programming events of the year.

"We've got an audience that loves this kind of material," he said.

Darabont and Hurd pitched the project to AMC and several other outlets. There is no studio attached yet. The duo's involvement made the project a must-have for the cabler, Stillerman said.

"These are two world-class filmmakers who are also brilliant storytellers with experience in the fantasy genre," he said.

One of my favorite comics comes to one of my favorite channels.  I've always said that if

The Walking Dead came out as a weekly drama series it would do Lost level numbers.

But @*!$ can we not call it a "graphic novel"? Its a monthly comic series for christsakes.

Its an ongoing comic series from Image by Robert Kirkman, easily one the top ten best comics of the last ten years.

Warning: the wikipedia page has MAJOR SPOILERS

The Walking Dead centers around a group of survivors making their way through the ruins of society during a zombie apocalypse. Its deals with the realistic response normal people would have having to fend off zombies, deal with each other and fight off other survivors who may not have the best interests of their group in mind. Its powerful, bloody, emotional and downright disturbing sometimes.

Elevator-buzzword pitch: Its 28 Days Later meets Lost

Mad Men, Breaking Bad and the new Prisoner mini-series soon. They also aired Hustle which was a great show.

Well we're not getting a pilot...


ITS GOING STRAIGHT INTO A SERIES!

AMC has given a series greenlight to "The Walking Dead," the Frank Darabont-helmed adaptation of the Image Comics series by Robert Kirkman.

AMC has ordered a total of six episodes of the series that revolves around a group of survivors of a zombie apocalypse. Darabont penned and directed the pilot and will exec produce with Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd of Valhalla Motion Pictures and David Alpert of Circle of Confusion, which will be funded entirely inhouse by AMC parent Rainbow Media. Charles Eglee, a seasoned TV drama showrunner, has also boarded the project as an exec producer.

"Dead" is targeted to premiere in October, dovetailing with Halloween and AMC's annual "Fearfest" two-week marathon of horror and thriller pics.