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[Love Deterrence]

The Walking Dead companion series pilot is a go.

EW can exclusively report that AMC has officially ordered a pilot set in the same zombie-plagued universe as TV’s top-rated drama series. The as-yet-untitled project will go into production later this year, and will be set in a different location than the original series and star a new cast of characters. (Since the characters are different, the series not technically a “spinoff.&#8221

The Walking Dead executive producers Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd and David Alpert are all on board for the new project. Dave Erickson (Sons of Anarchy) was tapped as showrunner back in March. Kirkman and Erickson recently turned in a pilot script, which we’re told really impressed AMC’s executive ranks.

“Almost from the beginning of The Walking Dead on AMC, fans have been curious about what is going on in the zombie apocalypse in other parts of the world,” said AMC President Charlie Collier. “In fact, beyond requests for zombie cameos, it’s the question I get asked the most. Obviously, we all take our stewardship of the original franchise incredibly seriously and we, along with Robert, Gale, David and now Dave, are all proceeding with extreme care in order to ensure that we are offering fans something truly compelling, engaging and distinct. We’re thrilled to be taking this next step with these remarkable partners.”

AMC has not released any details about the series, except that it will be set somewhere other than Georgia. “There are many corners of The Walking Dead universe that remain unseen in the shadows,” Kirkman said. “Being given the opportunity to shine a light into those corners and see what lurks out there is an absolute thrill. I know the fans are anxious to hear what Dave and I have been cooking up for this new universe of The Walking Dead, and I’m happy to be one step closer to sharing it with them.”

The proposed series has been in development since last year. Kirkman told IGN: “It definitely won’t be set in Georgia—I can at least say that. It’s important to us that this show exists on its own. The spinoff has to be a show worthy of existing, or else we’ve all sold out. So that’s something we’re all working hard towards doing, and I think we can pull it off. I think that the ideal situation is, when you’re watching the spinoff, you’re like, ‘Wow, this is a really awesome show.'”

The Walking Dead returns for its fifth season on Oct. 12. For more, be sure to check out Dalton Ross’ full coverage of the upcoming season, such as the cast discussing what’s to come and co-star Norman Reedus on Daryl’s next arc.

'The Walking Dead' companion series gets pilot greenlight

 

[Judderman]

AMC sees a cash cow, and it's going to milk the shit out of it.

 

[Schweinehund]

UK Walking dead?

 

[Zombine]

AMC sees a cash cow, and it's going to milk the shit out of it.

Sounds good to me. I can adjust easier to a new cast of characters vs characters already established in the books who have different personalities on tv. Hyped.

 

[Cygnus]

UK Walking dead?

28 months later?

 

[Skeyser]

As long as the writing is good I don't have a problem with that

 

[El Daniel]

Such a shame the show is garbage where the game is great. (haven't read the comics yet)

I hope we get a TWD show like the game someday.

 

[strafer]

When theres no more room in hell..milk will walk the earth

 

[theechrisfox]

I bet it is set in or near Washington D.C. to set up a giant crossover down the line.

 

[-COOLIO-]

As long as the writing is good I don't have a problem with that

walking dead season 1 spoiler:

Spoiler

how anyone was able to stick with the show when the CDC self destructed is beyond me

 

[Rentahamster]

Make it a comedy set in an enclave in Alaska that is secure and self-sufficient.

 

[Yamauchi]

I can always handle more Walking Dead. The show remains my favorite series probably since BSG.

 

[Squalor]

Meh.

 

[Squalor]

As long as the writing is good I don't have a problem with that

Wait, are you actually implying that the main series has good writing?

I would certainly hope not.

 

[Leflus]

Make it a comedy set in an enclave in Alaska that is secure and self-sufficient.

The Walking Deadbeats.

TWD meets Trailer Park Boys.

 

[wildfire]

Wait, are you actually implying that the main series has good writing?

I would certainly hope not.

Can we just all agree that when it comes to writing characters TWD has excellent writing but when it comes to world building and having moments to advance the plot around that world TWD HAS shit writing and leave it at that?

 

[daveo42]

My true hope for this is that is a completely different area that has absolutely zero relation or bearing on the current show or comic in any way, shape, or form. Please. 100% standalone.

I bet it is set in or near Washington D.C. to set up a giant crossover down the line.

I could see that happening even though (comic spoilers)

Spoiler

most of the good stuff happens to the town after Rick and crew show up.

Such a shame the show is garbage where the game is great. (haven't read the comics yet)

I hope we get a TWD show like the game someday.

The comics are good, but you can definitely see its age because it looks like Kirkman is running out of ideas for the comic itself.

As long as the writing is good I don't have a problem with that

Hopefully they keep the current writers on since most of the stuff we've seen from recent seasons have been good. I just want to avoid all of the junk we got during seasons 1-3.

 

[strafer]

Such a shame the show is garbage where the game is great. (haven't read the comics yet)

I hope we get a TWD show like the game someday.

The game is garbage.

 

[FlyingIrishMan]

walking dead season 1 spoiler:

Spoiler

how anyone was able to stick with the show when the CDC self destructed is beyond me

Is that not protocol?

 

[Love Deterrence]

The game is garbage.

Classic strafer!

 

[Tobor]

Walking Dead: Miami
Walking Dead: SVU
Walking Dead: LA

 

[jond76]

I hope they start on day one of the apocalypse. I wanna see how shit falls apart.

 

[Sapiens]

Walking Dead: Nights

 

[Mac the KNife]

It will be set somewhere that looks remarkably like Georgia.

 

[Slayven]

Walking Dead: Nights

I get that reference.



But you seen one group of people being assholes at the end of the world,.you seen them all.

 

[Enduin]

I'm down, still a bit more interested in how Preacher is doing though.

I hope it's set somewhere further north and tries to do things TWD hasn't or can't. It's need to differentiate itself from the original or else it'll lack any real purpose other than to have more of TWD. I think it will be good to have a clean slate too for building the setting and characters, and they'll likely set out the progression of the show much better since they'll know it's going to go for at least a few seasons.

I think it would be cool if the show was more about a stable-ish community surviving, and all they have to do to survive and maintain order, with the lead basically like a good version of the Governor, but with less crazy dead daughter and just murdering people and more "for the greater good" type of attitude, much like Rick just channeled and exercised in a different way. Then after a few seasons you could have a crossover with the original series where Rick and Co come to find the new show's community and you could have this cool back and forth between episodes, or rather half seasons since I doubt they'd run them at the same time, and show this epic conflict between the two different shows and the attitudes and beliefs of their leaders, where everyone would die in the end. That would be fun.

 

[DizzyCaffeine]

My two favorite shows (WD and BB) are getting spinoffs! I couldn't be happier with the news.

 

[Slayven]

It will be set somewhere that looks remarkably like Georgia.

Yet black people are as rare as hen's teeth

 

[cacildo]

MORE feelings
MORE long conversations about emotions
MORE characters doing incredibly stupid things just because
MORE episodes where nothing happens

And one good pilot and season finale where something actually happens, just enough to keel you hooked, because everybody loves zombie movies even when they are not good

 

[RatskyWatsky]

The game is garbage.

Both in terms of writing and gameplay. I can't take seriously the people who say the show is shit but then praise the game. lol

I'm down, still a bit more interested in how Preacher is doing though.

They're still writing the pilot iirc.

I hope it's set somewhere further north and tries to do things TWD hasn't or can't. It's need to differentiate itself from the original or else it'll lack any real purpose other than to have more of TWD. I think it will be good to have a clean slate too for building the setting and characters, and they'll likely set out the progression of the show much better since they'll know it's going to go for at least a few seasons.

Definitely. It needs to be a completely new take on the series - it needs to be more than just More Walking Dead (well, actually, it doesn't in order for it to be a success). I'm actually really curious to see what they do with it.

I think it would be cool if the show was more about a stable-ish community surviving, and all they have to do to survive and maintain order, with the lead basically like a good version of the Governor, but with less crazy dead daughter and just murdering people and more "for the greater good" type of attitude, much like Rick just channeled and exercised in a different way. Then after a few seasons you could have a crossover with the original series where Rick and Co come to find the new show's community and you could have this cool back and forth between episodes, or rather half seasons since I doubt they'd run them at the same time, and show this epic conflict between the two different shows and the attitudes and beliefs of their leaders, where everyone would die in the end. That would be fun.

(future show/comic spoiler)

Spoiler

That's basically what the main show will turn into in a season or two, so then AMC'd be stuck with two shows that were exactly the same.

Yet black people are as rare as hen's teeth

This hasn't been true for like 2 years now btw.

I bet it is set in or near Washington D.C. to set up a giant crossover down the line.

Spoiler

I imagine the group in the main series will reach D.C. by the end of this season,

and seeing as how this new spin-off probably won't launch until next fall, that wouldn't work.

 

[Enduin]

(future show/comic spoiler)

Spoiler

That's basically what the main show will turn into in a season or two, so then AMC'd be stuck with two shows that were exactly the same.

Yeah, but I'd rather they ditch that stuff for the main show because really the trajectory of the comic nose dived not too long after where they are now.

Spoiler

Once the whole DC settlement went to shit and stuff occurred it was boring as shit, even then it was kind of a snoozer once they got there. I haven't read anything since like 104 or something not long after they arrived at the new colony and they met with the new bandit group.

I'd rather they just keep Rick and co trucking along trying to find the perfect place to live but never finding it, because they're psychopaths who are broken and can't survive in any kind of society anymore, and then this new show being people who actually find a way, even if flawed, to maintain some humanity and society. And when they finally meet in the final seasons, two worlds collide and everyone dies.

I think it would be really cool to have 8 eps of the original, 8 eps of the new, 8 eps of the original and the final 8 eps of the new in a row. Or the other way around, in this huge back and forth story between the two factions. People would lose their shit, having 30-40 weeks straight of TWD. Then end it all in some big 2 hour full on crossover finale.

 

[Fiktion]

Such a shame the show is garbage where the game is great. (haven't read the comics yet)

I hope we get a TWD show like the game someday.

Season 2 of the game was literally one of the biggest disappointments I've ever played. They changed the writing staff and it shows. Enormous missed opportunity.

I doubt this spinoff could be much worse.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

AMC having a hard time getting another original hit huh?

 

[sfedai0]

Maybe they run in to zombie Heisenburg and he leads them in a battle to wipe out humanity.

 

[Volimar]

I would love a Walking Dead set in the UK. Far fewer firearms would make for some interesting zombie kills.

Better yet would be survivors of a plane crash. People of different nationalities stuck in a country where no one knows the language. Having to survive in that scenario, dealing not only with zombies and each other, but locals that no one can understand.

 

[geomon]

walking dead season 1 spoiler:

Spoiler

how anyone was able to stick with the show when the CDC self destructed is beyond me

I made it one more season after that. I couldn't take stupid any more so I bailed.

 

[jelly]

So, do they split the budget ?

Walking Dead - Beating a Dead Corpse.

I still quite like the show.

 

[GK86]

For those who have read the comics, does it ever mention the rest of the world? Or other cities that they never been to?

 

[Fari]

The game is garbage.

I once laughed at a guy when he told me that the game made him cry and I felt terrible afterwards.

That's my only experience with this entire franchise.

 

[Goldrush]

I hope they start on day one of the apocalypse. I wanna see how shit falls apart.

Only idea I can think of that would be not be explored in the existing series.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

For those who have read the comics, does it ever mention the rest of the world? Or other cities that they never been to?

Spoiler

No, because that isn't what the story is about. It's about this one specific group trying to survive in a world gone to hell. What's happening in the rest of the world is irrelevant to the characters.

 

[Sectorseven]

Wouldn't surprise me if it stars a special forces type character. Gives the show access to more interesting weapons to kill zombies with, vehicles to travel around at the writer's leisure and a macro view of the apocalypse.

 

[Volimar]

Wouldn't surprise me if it stars a special forces type character. Gives the show access to more interesting weapons to kill zombies with, vehicles to travel around at the writer's leisure and a macro view of the apocalypse.

Macgyver

 

[Boombloxer]

I actually wanted the "Things are going to shit" version prequel series.
Is that still on?

 

[Dram]

That sounds like it would really be expensive to make.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

I actually wanted the "Things are going to shit" version prequel series.
Is that still on?

That was never going to be a thing.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

I made it one more season after that. I couldn't take stupid any more so I bailed.

Same here.

 

[Thorakai]

So how is season 4 of The Walking Dead? I stopped watching after the hilariously disappointing season 3 finale.

 

[IdreamofHIME]

Hope it's a bit more action packed and gets away from the comics. Despite the liberties the show takes, it being handcuffed to the comic really doesn't give it room to breathe.
...and with the recent shenanigans in the comic, the show is gonna be in for a rough ride in a season or two.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

So how is season 4 of The Walking Dead? I stopped watching after the hilariously disappointing season 3 finale.

The first half is basically what everyone wanted from the season 3 finale.

The second half is much more character focused - there's very little action - where each episode is basically a vignette that is mostly unrelated to the other episodes, until the season finale where everything comes together.

It was a bold direction to take the show in even if it wasn't always successful at what it was trying to achieve.