The pilot episode of the Zombie Epic tv series, “The Walking Dead” was the biggest premiere and highest rated broadcast in AMC’s history. Kudos to Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore for creating this story ten years ago. And leave it to Frank Darabont to tell the story on film, and all that is right in the zombie apocalyptic world rests easy.
It was only a matter of time before AMC would add another season and that time is now. AMC has ordered a 2nd season with 13 episodes.
No word yet on what will the story arc be or where are survivors will be headed in the 2nd season. Darabont said right before the pilot episode aired, that he has only mapped out the 1st season which is only six episodes long. Two have already aired. When they get the go ahead for the 2nd season, they will re-visit Kirkman’s comic and evaluate and start to adapt and make the stories. Which of course is now.
Here is a piece of the AMC press release:
(New York, NY – November 8, 2010) AMC announced today the renewal of “The Walking Dead” for a 13-episode second season. Since debuting Sunday, October 31, “The Walking Dead” has broken ratings records, with the series reaching more Adults 18-49 than any other show in the history of cable television.
“I wish all programming decisions were no brainers like this one,” said Sharon Tal Yguado, SVP Scripted Programming. “‘The Walking Dead’ is a TV masterpiece on so many levels. We want at least 10 seasons, if not more. Kudos to AMC!”
AMC’s “The Walking Dead” is based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. Kirkman serves as an executive producer on the project and three-time Academy Award-nominee Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) serves as writer, director and executive producer. Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator, Aliens, Armageddon, The Incredible Hulk), chairman of Valhalla Motion Pictures, serves as Executive Producer. David Alpert from Circle of Confusion and Charles “Chic” Eglee (Dexter, The Shield, Dark Angel) serve as Executive Producers.
“The Walking Dead” tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home. The comic goes on to explore the challenges of life in a world overrun by zombies who take a toll on the survivors, and sometimes the interpersonal conflicts present a greater danger to their continuing survival than the zombies that roam the country. Over time, the characters are changed by the constant exposure to death and some grow willing to do anything to survive.
Shot on location in Atlanta, “The Walking Dead” is led by a cast that includes Lincoln (“Teachers,” Love Actually) as Rick Grimes, Jon Bernthal (“The Pacific,” The Ghost Writer) as Shane Walsh, Sarah Wayne Callies (“Prison Break”) as Lori Grimes, Laurie Holden (“The Shield,” Stephen King’s The Mist) as Andrea, Jeffrey DeMunn (Stephen King’s The Mist, The Green Mile) as Dale, Steven Yeun (“The Big Bang Theory”) as Glen, Emma Bell (The Bedford Diaries) as Amy and Chandler Riggs (Get Low) as Carl Grimes.
I am so happy for everyone involved. Rest assured if I visit Atlanta in the next several months I am going to try like hell to get on set and become a walk on zombie extra.