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.