AMC Orders Pilot For The Walking Dead Spin-Off
The second series would follow a different group in another part of the world
It’s really no contest these days: The Walking Dead is the biggest show on cable, with more than 16 million tuning in for last fall’s season premiere (and a not-too-shabby 13 million in a typical week).
Earlier this year AMC announced that it was developing a spin-off series with creator Robert Kirkman, which would follow a different group of people in the zombie apocalypse and allow writers to explore another corner of the world.
This week the network announced that it has given the official go-ahead for a pilot episode, which will begin production late this year.
“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,” AMC President Charlie Collier said. “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.”
Kirkman will produce with co-creator Dave Erickson, and will take on the showrunner duties himself. Should it go to series, the companion show will allow Kirkman to explore farther afield from his landmark comic series.
“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.”
AMC wasn’t forthcoming on any details regarding the storyline, characters, or potential casting — so stay tuned for updates!
The fifth season of The Walking Dead premieres Sunday, October 12 (9/8c) on AMC.
