Holy Crap! Darabont to adapt 'The Walking Dead' for AMC
08-12-09 | 08:14 AM
#1
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Holy Crap! Darabont to adapt 'The Walking Dead' for AMC
From Variety:
This is gonna be awesome. Oh how I've longed for a zombie show 
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 Motion 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.
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 Motion 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.
08-12-09 | 09:10 AM
#8
Senior Member
re: Holy Crap! Darabont to adapt 'The Walking Dead' for AMC
Just imagine what the uncut DVDs will be like--or if AMC passed and HBO/Showtime picked it up.
This is probably the best TV news I've heard in a long time.
This is probably the best TV news I've heard in a long time.
08-12-09 | 09:55 AM
#12
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08-12-09 | 10:27 AM
#13
DVD Talk Legend
re: Holy Crap! Darabont to adapt 'The Walking Dead' for AMC
Never read the comics, but I always thought a zombie television series would be awesome.
08-12-09 | 10:48 AM
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re: Holy Crap! Darabont to adapt 'The Walking Dead' for AMC
Because of how Kirkman chose to make it one long story, not broken up at all, it really lends itself well to an episodic series. Doubled especially because of its frequent cliffhangers and game-changing moments. From the start reading the comic, I always figured it would make a good tv show.
Only thing that sucks is that AMC is censored territory, so they will have to sidestep some issues and significantly pull back on the gore.
Even condensed, the comic already covers what I would imagine to be five or six seasons worth of tv, maybe more, and still has a ways to go before its end. It'll be interesting to see how long it lasts on tv, what they will condense, and how they will deal with the tv show ending if the comic is still ongoing (I imagine they'd just leave it open-ended).
Only thing that sucks is that AMC is censored territory, so they will have to sidestep some issues and significantly pull back on the gore.
Even condensed, the comic already covers what I would imagine to be five or six seasons worth of tv, maybe more, and still has a ways to go before its end. It'll be interesting to see how long it lasts on tv, what they will condense, and how they will deal with the tv show ending if the comic is still ongoing (I imagine they'd just leave it open-ended).
Last edited by Slumbering Fist; 08-12-09 at 10:51 AM.
08-12-09 | 11:16 AM
#15
re: Holy Crap! Darabont to adapt 'The Walking Dead' for AMC
I wonder if they'll do it in B&W. You can get around some of the gore problems if the blood looks black instead of bright red.
08-12-09 | 11:22 AM
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From: Northern New Jersey...or as we say it "Sopranos Country USA"
re: Holy Crap! Darabont to adapt 'The Walking Dead' for AMC
Because of how Kirkman chose to make it one long story, not broken up at all, it really lends itself well to an episodic series. Doubled especially because of its frequent cliffhangers and game-changing moments. From the start reading the comic, I always figured it would make a good tv show.
Only thing that sucks is that AMC is censored territory, so they will have to sidestep some issues and significantly pull back on the gore.
Even condensed, the comic already covers what I would imagine to be five or six seasons worth of tv, maybe more, and still has a ways to go before its end. It'll be interesting to see how long it lasts on tv, what they will condense, and how they will deal with the tv show ending if the comic is still ongoing (I imagine they'd just leave it open-ended).
Only thing that sucks is that AMC is censored territory, so they will have to sidestep some issues and significantly pull back on the gore.
Even condensed, the comic already covers what I would imagine to be five or six seasons worth of tv, maybe more, and still has a ways to go before its end. It'll be interesting to see how long it lasts on tv, what they will condense, and how they will deal with the tv show ending if the comic is still ongoing (I imagine they'd just leave it open-ended).
Also, AMC will be able to get away with a few things...but there is always a director's cut on DVD/Blu option out there.
08-12-09 | 11:32 AM
#17
DVD Talk Hero
re: Holy Crap! Darabont to adapt 'The Walking Dead' for AMC
But wouldn't they have to tone the content way down (especially the violence) in order to be on regular cable TV?
08-12-09 | 12:01 PM
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re: Holy Crap! Darabont to adapt 'The Walking Dead' for AMC
Ya know... it's actually not the most violent comic I've ever seen. I mean, there are some really tough moments in there but the core of the comic has always really been about how the end of the world affects its' characters emotionally and physically.
There are quite a few decapitations in there (Michonne pretty much kills everybody this way, lol) but I think their worst problem is gonna be how to depict The Walking Dead themselves, who are usually just walking hunks of bone and rotting flesh.
I really think Darabont is really going to push Black & White HD (which is what the source material is)... and I've got a feeling that AMC will allow it artistically and logistically (it will make cheaper CGI look better for instance and allow much more ultraviolence, lol).
There are quite a few decapitations in there (Michonne pretty much kills everybody this way, lol) but I think their worst problem is gonna be how to depict The Walking Dead themselves, who are usually just walking hunks of bone and rotting flesh.
I really think Darabont is really going to push Black & White HD (which is what the source material is)... and I've got a feeling that AMC will allow it artistically and logistically (it will make cheaper CGI look better for instance and allow much more ultraviolence, lol).
08-12-09 | 01:19 PM
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re: Holy Crap! Darabont to adapt 'The Walking Dead' for AMC
Another kinda' major thing, is that they will be forced to alter the comics timeline, make it longer, create spaces between certain plot points/seasons, because there are children in the cast.
08-12-09 | 01:38 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
re: Holy Crap! Darabont to adapt 'The Walking Dead' for AMC
I'm really curious about how close they will stick to the original storyline and how they will pace out the stories. I also wonder if they will have the balls to take out fairly major characters as routinely as the comic does.
08-12-09 | 06:00 PM
#24
DVD Talk God
re: Holy Crap! Darabont to adapt 'The Walking Dead' for AMC
Man, AMC really is making some fantastically smart decisions about TV shows over the past few years. I know nothing of the comic, but I welcome any show about zombies. Awesome. 
