AMC Greenlights Walking Dead TV Series
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by Britt Hayes
Fellow staffer Ben alerted me via Twitter to this wonderful news from The Hollywood Reporter. Talk began circulating last August about director Frank Darabont (The Green Mile, The Mist) working with AMC on a deal to adapt Robert Kirkman’s ongoing zombie comic book series, The Walking Dead.
A deal has been made and Darabont has been given the official greenlight from AMC to being production on his television adaptation of the series. Darabont will write, direct, and executive produce, with Anne Hurd and David Alpert also executive producing.
Fans of the series seem to be torn on the idea of a Walking Dead adaptation. Hell, my own household is torn on the idea. If you’ve read the series, you understand that it’s a tough one to work with. Walking Dead is brutal, violent, bloody, and dark. The series might work better on pay cable channels like HBO, Showtime, or Cinemax (who is heavily lacking in original content), but AMC has proven with shows like Mad Men and Breaking Bad that they’re willing to push the limits. (Warning: Potential Mad Men spoiler) In the first episode of the third season of Mad Men, closeted gay Sal has a near-softcore porn moment with a bellhop in a hotel. You won’t find moments like that on NBC, folks.
Darabont is also another reason to have hope for the series. He’s adapted three Stephen King stories into brilliant films (okay, some of you hated The Mist, I get it), which shows how deft he is with adapting material he loves. The stories he typically works with are deep, dark, sad and affecting stories about men in trying situations. And say what you will about The Mist, but I’d like to think his character development there is a perfect example of how Darabont can make a story about people more horrifying than the monsters they’re surrounded by.
The only downside I foresee is the network limiting the amount of blood, and there are some very bloody, graphic, and violent stories (if you’ve read volume 8 – issues #43-48 – you’re with me) to be told.
For those of you not familiar with The Walking Dead, it follows the story of Rick Grimes, a fallen officer who awakes from a coma to find that zombies have overtaken the earth. He sets out to find and join with other survivors, including his missing wife and son. It’s a simple premise, but the books are well-crafted and highly-addictive. Visit Amazon to pick up volume 1 and see what all the fuss is about. And non-comic book readers? Trust me, this isn’t your average comic book. I have several friends who aren’t into comic books and they simply adore this series.
Stick with Brutal as Hell for developments on Darabont’s Walking Dead as they occur.
