Robert Kirkman – Cinefantastique

'Walking Dead' Update

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Tom Powers

Looks like previous reports were accurrate; Frank Darabont is stepping down as showrunner of THE WALKING DEAD, and Glenn Mazzara (THE SHIELD) will indeed be assumming his responsiblities.

From AMC:
“THE WALKING DEAD’S Glen Mazzara, writer and executive producer, is expanding his responsibilities to assume the role of showrunner. AMC is grateful to executive producer, writer and pilot director Frank Darabont whose contributions to the success of THE WALKING DEAD are innumerable. We continue to discuss his ongoing role with the series.
Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead graphic novels, executive producer and writer on the series, will remain in this role and will continue to steward the brand. Gale Anne Hurd will remain in her role as executive producer. The production continues on schedule for an Oct. 16 premiere.”

Via Entertainment Weekly.

Darabont Leaving 'Walking Dead'?

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Tom Powers

According to Deadline.com show runner Frank Darabont (THE MIST) is stepping down from the hit AMC zombie series THE WALKING DEAD.
It’s unclear whether Darabont, who was the force behind bringing the Robert Kirkman-created graphic novel to television and directed the pilot, is leaving the show completely or just relinqhising the demanding day-to-day control of a TV series.
It’s believed Kirkman, also an executive producer will be staying with the series, as will Gale Anne Hurd (TERMINATOR) , and the article speculates that co-executive producer Glen Mazzara (THE SHEILD) may step in as the new showrunner.
THE WALKING DEAD is currently in production of its second season, due to return to AMC October 16th.

'Walking Dead' Writing Staff "Fired"

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Tom Powers

Deadline reports that Frank Darabont, executive producer and writer/director of AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD, has released all of the writing staff from season one of the popular comic book-based Zombie series.
The fact that there will be “changes to the writing staff” was confirmed today by AMC.
The site says it’s rumored that Frank Darabont may ultimately opt to not replace the staff, but instead go with freelance writers. Half of the six episodes of this first short season were written by Darabont himself (penning two), and one by comic book creator Robert Kirkman. Perhaps he plans to work out the plotline of the entire 13-episode second season himself (or with Kirkman), and simply assign scripts to freelancers.
This is not entirely unprecedented; BABYLON 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski dumped his entire writing staff after two seasons. He wrote the bulk of the next three years himself, with only two freelance scripts, if memory serves.
It’s unlikely that Frank Darabont intends to go that far.

Laurie Holden To Take on The Walking Dead

Posted on May 7, 2010 by Dennis Routledge Tizzard

Another week, more cast member for AMC’s zombie series, THE WALKING DEAD, are confirmed. This time it’s Laurie Holden’s (SILENT HILL, THE MIST) and newcomer Steven Yeun’s turn as they’ve both just been cast in Frank Darabont’s (THE GREEN MILE, THE MIST) comic book adaptation.

THE WALKING DEAD television series is set to follow the plot of Robert Kirkman’s comic in telling the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home. Holden will be playing Andrea, a sharp shooter who falls for a man twice her age and Yuen has been cast as Glenn, a young man who saves Rick when he travels to Atlanta.
Both will be joining a cast which includes Andrew Lincoln (ENDURING LOVE, LOVE ACTUALLY) and Jeffrey DeMunn (THE MIST, THE X FILES). Holden (who must have impressed Darabont when she worked with him on THE MIST), in particular, is a brilliant choice to play Andrea as she’s proven herself an actress capable of playing strong, independent women and was impressive in both THE MIST and SILENT HILL.
THE WALKING DEAD starts shooting soon and is due to hit TV screens this October.

Walking Dead TV Series Greenlit

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Dennis Routledge Tizzard

Empire Online bring us the news that Frank Darabont’s (THE GREEN MILE, THE MIST) adaptation of zombie comic book THE WALKING DEAD has finally been given the go ahead. Cable channel AMC have apparently granted the series a six episode run, without even needing to see a pilot episode based upon Darabont and Charles Eglee’s (DEXTER) pitch.
Robert Kirkman’s highly popular comic book is set sometime after a zombie apocalypse and follows police officer Rick Grimes and his group of survivors travelling through North America struggling to find a new home.
Rick’s partner Shane has already been cast, with Jon Bernthal (THE GHOST) taking the role and according to Bloody Disgusting, it’s highly likely that Rick himself is to be played by Johnny Lee Miller (TRAINSPOTTING, AEON FLUX). The source material here is of exceptional quality and would serve much better on television that in a single film. Frank Darabont has also shown off his flair for horror with 2007’s THE MIST so the series is definitely one to watch.
THE WALKING DEAD is set to start shooting in June in Atlanta and is most likely to appear on screens in October, as part of AMC’s Fearfest strand.