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The Walking Dead Shuffles To Series
Frank Darabont's zombies walk on

30 March 2010  |  Written by James White  |  Source: The Hollywood Reporter


Good news if you were excited by word that Frank Darabont and Gale Anne Hurd were collaborating on an adaptation of zombie graphic novel The Walking Dead for US cable channel AMC: it’s been picked up for a six episode run!

Apparently the AMC execs didn’t need to see a pilot; Darabont and Dexter writer/producer Charles Eglee convinced them that the project had a solid plan in place and potential to be a success even as casting continued on that first episode.

Robert Kirkman’s series takes place shortly after a zombie apocalypse – the world is a shattered, dangerous place, with the living dead still shambling around very much hungry for flesh. Or brains.

The story follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a secure home. And the first official piece of casting is in place: The Ghost’s Jon Bernthal has signed to play Grimes' partner and friend Shane.

And according to Bloody Disgusting, the producers might have found their Grimes, with Johnny Lee Miller a front-runner for the role.

Social commentary + zombie mayhem= yes please! Darabont and his team start shooting in June in Atlanta, with the show expected to air Stateside this coming October as part of AMC’s Fearfest strand. Which means we’ll hopefully get to see it shortly after that…


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Your Comments

RE: Not Rick.......
ok, I just googled this Peter Krause guy....he certinly looks like Rick... can the dude act though!? I've never heard of him until now :-s More

Posted by arkhams_finest at 16:25 on 06 April 2010 | Report This Post

RE: Not Rick.......
The only way I can justify why he doesn't fit the role is the feeling you get when you read the article. Having read your comment about Peter Krause I immediately thought "That's rick!". Very good choice, for me he fits the look and role perfectly. Miller, not so much. More

Posted by The Joker at 23:57 on 30 March 2010 | Report This Post

RE: Not Rick.......
I've always thought Peter Krause (best known as Nate from Six Feet Under) is perfect for the role of Rick. He's got the look and the acting chops to boot. That said, I don't see what the problem with Miller is - he's a good actor. People saying he's "not right" or they "can't see it"... why exactly? Forum's full of casting directors. More

Posted by kingalan at 22:32 on 30 March 2010 | Report This Post

Not Rick.......
I ADORE this comic series...... I just can't see Johnny Lee Miller as Rick, I'll be very disappointed if he is cast =( More

Posted by arkhams_finest at 21:47 on 30 March 2010 | Report This Post

the actor not the character
Deller, all I meant was that I don't see him fitting the role of rick. I called him 'sick boy' as that's what I know him best from. I'm sorry if this came across as if I thought he would play sick boy in the walking dead. More

Posted by The Joker at 18:59 on 30 March 2010 | Report This Post

Anaemic Zombies? Yes! Anaemic Show? Nope...
You can't stint on the blood and guts if you're doing a zombie movie and the same applies to tv shows. The zombie apocalypse is such a great story it would hard to fuck it up. I'm looking forward to this. More

Posted by BenTramer at 16:19 on 30 March 2010 | Report This Post

The gore issue...
If this is going to be a TV series, isnt that going to have a serious imapct on a quintissential aspect of any zombie adaptation.... GORE! I cant imagine anything with zombies in that doesnt have that sucker punch being great. Then again, i wouldnt exactly describe 28 days later as gory and that was good. However, those werent zombies though. I like Darabont though so it should be full of atmosphere. I would also like to see Tom Jane as Rick. More

Posted by willy2fly at 13:58 on 30 March 2010 | Report This Post

RE:
Sorry Macgyver I tend to get annoyed with those kind of responses every time a casting announcement comes in from Empire. I'm interested to see what Darabont does with this after his excellent take on The Mist but as always I will reserve judgement until I see it myself. I've been a huge fan of the Walking Dead since I first picked it up it's gotta be the right script to do Robert Kirkman's work justice. More

Posted by deller at 12:45 on 30 March 2010 | Report This Post

Tom Jane as Rick! It is only logical. More

Posted by Metalion at 12:26 on 30 March 2010 | Report This Post

YAY!
Here's hoping they don't fuck around with it too much! No fast bloody zombies for one thing. Deller, bit more to acting than that but your point is valid. Miller should be fine enough actually More

Posted by TheRealMacgyver at 12:10 on 30 March 2010 | Report This Post

Reply to Joker
I hate these bloody people who comment on an actor based on their work 15 years ago. "Sick boy as Rick, I don't see it fitting". Your opinion doesn't matter Joker the guy is an actor he's going to be told where to stand and how to speak by the director and the script is going to tell him what to say. We as viewers have to wait and see if he can do that not take a 15 year old film and say that's all Johnny Lee Miller is. "Danny Zuko as a hitman??? that would never work". More

Posted by deller at 11:04 on 30 March 2010 | Report This Post

A1 super cool
Most comic books adaptions would be better served as TV series rather than films. Walking Dead is definately one of them. And on AMC hopefully it can be a faithful adaption. A zombie TV series, eh? About time. More

Posted by The_Hat at 06:12 on 30 March 2010 | Report This Post

Sick boy as Rick. I don't see it fitting. Great that the series is going forward with such talent but I hope they don't overlook the details which make the comic so great. More

Posted by The Joker at 03:13 on 30 March 2010 | Report This Post


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