Frank Darabont circles zombies
AMC attacks comic series adaptation

AMC is venturing into zombie-drama territory with multi-hyphenate Frank Darabont.

Cabler is close to finalizing one of the richest development deals ever with Darabont to write and direct a series adaptation of the Image Comics graphic novel series "The Walking Dead," penned by Robert Kirkman. Gale Anne Hurd of Valhalla Pictures and David Alpert of Circle of Confusion are also on board to exec produce.

Project is set among a group of zombie survivors of an apocalypse who are led by a police officer, Rick Grimes, in search of a safe place to live. Numerous editions of the "Walking Dead" graphic novels have been published since 2003.

Joel Stillerman, AMC's senior veep of programming, production and original content, said the project appealed to the cabler because of "the quality of the storytelling" in Kirkman's work. The series will stay faithful to the tone of the original novels, he said.

"This is not about zombies popping out of closets," Stillerman said. "This is a story about survival, and the dynamics of what happens when a group is forced to survive under these circumstances. The world (in 'Walking Dead') is portrayed in a smart, sophisticated way."

Stillerman noted that the cabler's annual "Fear Fest" movie showcase around Halloween is one of AMC's most popular programming events of the year.

"We've got an audience that loves this kind of material," he said.

Darabont and Hurd pitched the project to AMC and several other outlets. There is no studio attached yet. The duo's involvement made the project a must-have for the cabler, Stillerman said.

"These are two world-class filmmakers who are also brilliant storytellers with experience in the fantasy genre," he said.

Filmmaker Frank Darabont (THE MIST, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION ) has been hard at work developing the popular ongoing Image comic THE WALKING DEAD as a potential series for cable channel AMC. While the network initially greenlit a pilot, they've since changed their mind... and pushed a full order into the pipe.

AMC has given a six episode commitment so far to the show, written and directed by Darabont and produced by Gale Anne Hurd (ALIENS, T2). The show begins production in June in Atlanta and will premiere during AMC's horror marathon Fearfest in October. Jon Bernthal ("The Pacific") is the only actor officially linked to the show at this point, but casting should roll out soon.

Robert Kirkman's bleak book is set in a post-apocalyptic zombie-populated world, and follows a revolving group of survivors led by a former policeman. The despondent humans try to find food, shelter and some small indication of hope while avoiding the flesh-craving hordes. The cinematic series is perhaps best known for how these remaining people interact, and how regular characters are shockingly dispatched without warning.

THE WALKING DEAD joins AMC's edgy acclaimed shows "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad", plus the upcoming new series
"Rubicon", which stars James Badge Dale (THE DEPARTED, "The Pacific") as "an analyst at a national think tank who discovers that his employers may be part of a secret society that manipulates world events on a grand scale."

AMC adds actor, producer to 'Walking Dead'

AMC has added to the cast of Frank Darabont’s apocalyptic zombie drama “The Walking Dead.”

The production has tapped Laurie Holden for the role of Andrea, a key member of the survivor group who has a proficiency with a sniper rifle and falls for a man twice her age.

Holden was in writer-producer-director Darabont’s “The Mist” and had a recurring role in the final season of FX’s “The Shield.” She’s repped by APA and Framework.

Also, Adam Fierro has joined the production as a consulting producer. The ICM-repped Fierro has worked on such serialized dramas as “Dexter,” “The Shield” and “24.”

In addition, newcomer Steven Yeun also has been added to “The Walking Dead” cast as Glenn. He and Holden join cast members Andrew Lincoln, Jeffrey DeMunn and Jon Bernthal on the show.

The eagerly anticipated "Walking Dead" starts production in August.