AMC's "Fear The Walking Dead" (Season 8)

[Carlanga]

Originally Posted by ChiefSequatchie

What makes you say that?

Originally Posted by Edword

Yeah, just because they are making a spin-off doesn't mean they'll stop with TWD.

3 things:
1) AMC tends to not continue shows past a 6 season
2) Most (not all) spin-off happen after or almost finishing a show
3) Having 2 shows about zombies (or anything that is repeated) that cost money for production that has the same backdrop in the same network doesn't tend to go well w/ the network exes after a season or two because they would be afraid of losing people due to repetition. Props/makeups/etc for TWD are expensive to them already and a spinoff would need to have the same $ treatment for people to watch it; too risky I would think to do it in a long run.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by kemcha

George Romero made an excellent point. Zombie movies should be about zombies, not the human drama that encompasses 95% of the production. Romero has been making zombie movies since way before AMC was around and long before Robert Kirkman's comic.

It might be hard to swallow, but he actually makes some good valid points.

Here's actually what was printed in the article:

Romero offered his thoughts on the current zombie craze in a conversation with Big Issue via Geeks of Doom. As Romero’s idea of the zombie is still going strong nearly 50 years after Night of the Living Dead, the magazine asked whether the appeal of these monsters would ever die. “Not in my book!” Romero responded.

Here's what Romero said:

Once they bleed out of pop culture I’ll be able to go back and do them again. I don’t want to touch them now. Gosh, they are all over the place. The Walking Dead is the number one television series in the States, World War Z, games, commercials… Ugh! It’s too much!

It feels like I don’t have a horse in the race. They asked me to do a couple of episodes of The Walking Dead but I didn’t want to be a part of it. Basically it’s just a soap opera with a zombie occasionally. I always used the zombie as a character for satire or a political criticism and I find that missing in what’s happening now.

Source: http://www.slashfilm.com/george-a-ro...-walking-dead/

Even though I like the showand I would not be that critical , I kind of agree with him. Sometimes it is too much of a soap opera. That was one of the reasons I was happy to have the mom die.

[Edword]

Originally Posted by Carlanga

3 things:
1) AMC tends to not continue shows past a 6 season
2) Most (not all) spin-off happen after or almost finishing a show
3) Having 2 shows about zombies (or anything that is repeated) that cost money for production that has the same backdrop in the same network doesn't tend to go well w/ the network exes after a season or two because they would be afraid of losing people due to repetition. Props/makeups/etc for TWD are expensive to them already and a spinoff would need to have the same $ treatment for people to watch it; too risky I would think to do it in a long run.

Well if this were to actually be true, I'd say don't do the spin-off series and just keep TWD. If they'd be worried about over-saturation and repetition then why make a spin-off to begin with.

Although I would have to say currently there is The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, which is a spin-off airing at the same time. So you never know.

[Fakejb]

Originally Posted by Stoney Jackson

Why does Romero get to decide what The Walking Dead should be about? It's Robert Kirkman's baby. I love the direction of the comic and the show. Do we really need another "...of the Dead?" The last few have been pretty wack.

Exactly. Isn't the walking dead a reference to the human survivors and not the zombies going back to the comic? I remember Romero claiming to be a huge fan of TWD comic but Hates the show now that it's mainstream? I love romero but he hasn't made a decent "zombie" flick since the 70's. He's got no room to talk.

[bsweetness]

Originally Posted by Carlanga

3 things:
1) AMC tends to not continue shows past a 6 season
2) Most (not all) spin-off happen after or almost finishing a show
3) Having 2 shows about zombies (or anything that is repeated) that cost money for production that has the same backdrop in the same network doesn't tend to go well w/ the network exes after a season or two because they would be afraid of losing people due to repetition. Props/makeups/etc for TWD are expensive to them already and a spinoff would need to have the same $ treatment for people to watch it; too risky I would think to do it in a long run.

I guarantee you they will share a lot of the props between the two shows, so they'll save a good bit of money right there. When you take that into account, greenlighting a non-spin off show with high production values would be more expensive than something like this. The two productions, which are likely to be filming at different periods so that the seasons aren't airing at the same time, can easily share a lot of different things.

[DisneyBlu]

'The Walking Dead' companion series gets pilot greenlight

The Walking Dead companion series pilot is a go.

EW can exclusively report that AMC has officially ordered a pilot set in the same zombie-plagued universe as TV’s top-rated drama series. The as-yet-untitled project will go into production later this year, and will be set in a different location than the original series and star a new cast of characters. (Since the characters are different, the series not technically a “spinoff.”)

The Walking Dead executive producers Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd and David Alpert are all on board for the new project. Dave Erickson (Sons of Anarchy) was tapped as showrunner back in March. Kirkman and Erickson recently turned in a pilot script, which we’re told really impressed AMC’s executive ranks.

“Almost from the beginning of The Walking Dead on AMC, fans have been curious about what is going on in the zombie apocalypse in other parts of the world,” said AMC President Charlie Collier. “In fact, beyond requests for zombie cameos, it’s the question I get asked the most. Obviously, we all take our stewardship of the original franchise incredibly seriously and we, along with Robert, Gale, David and now Dave, are all proceeding with extreme care in order to ensure that we are offering fans something truly compelling, engaging and distinct. We’re thrilled to be taking this next step with these remarkable partners.”

AMC has not released any details about the series, except that it will be set somewhere other than Georgia. “There are many corners of The Walking Dead universe that remain unseen in the shadows,” Kirkman said. “Being given the opportunity to shine a light into those corners and see what lurks out there is an absolute thrill. I know the fans are anxious to hear what Dave and I have been cooking up for this new universe of The Walking Dead, and I’m happy to be one step closer to sharing it with them.”

The proposed series has been in development since last year. Kirkman told IGN: “It definitely won’t be set in Georgia—I can at least say that. It’s important to us that this show exists on its own. The spinoff has to be a show worthy of existing, or else we’ve all sold out. So that’s something we’re all working hard towards doing, and I think we can pull it off. I think that the ideal situation is, when you’re watching the spinoff, you’re like, ‘Wow, this is a really awesome show.'”

The Walking Dead returns for its fifth season on Oct. 12.

[ArieS]

So is it gonna be like The Real Housewives?
The Walking Dead of Atlanta, The Walking Dead of Orange County, etc?

[UK_fan_05]

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...t=walking+dead

[KilloWertz]

It may end up being as good as The Walking Dead, but I don't really care. I care about what's going on with this cast, not a new cast, which is essentially what this is. The only need to do this is because AMC is losing most of their biggest shows.

[DisneyBlu]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

It may end up being as good as The Walking Dead, but I don't really care. I care about what's going on with this cast, not a new cast, which is essentially what this is. The only need to do this is because AMC is losing most of their biggest shows.

The Walking Dead will always be the "A" show for me, but I'm excited about a "B" show. If the show is bad, it gets cancelled. If it's good, then I have two Walking Dead shows to be a fan of. The Walking Dead will always be my favorite; I can't see the companion series ever overtaking the original, for me. But I'm excited to see another look into this world.

[djgeneral]

The Walking Dead companion series pilot is a go.

EW can exclusively report that AMC has officially ordered a pilot set in the same zombie-plagued universe as TV’s top-rated drama series. The as-yet-untitled project will go into production later this year, and will be set in a different location than the original series and star a new cast of characters. (Since the characters are different, the series not technically a “spinoff.”)

The Walking Dead executive producers Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd and David Alpert are all on board for the new project. Dave Erickson (Sons of Anarchy) was tapped as showrunner back in March. Kirkman and Erickson recently turned in a pilot script, which we’re told really impressed AMC’s executive ranks.

[Foggy]

I'd probably get behind this if this is an anthology series that ran by the side of the series. 6 - 8 episodes following individual groups around America/The World, less burdened in the melodrama and more concerned with horror, twists and suspense, maybe even singular allegories, or alluding to the events before the show, creating a mystery that the show then doesn't have to be concerned about. The could all have subheadings like The Walking Dead: so and so.

I just don't want a long running Walking Dead-lite series that's just the same but in the snow or something. Make something that's compact that fills the gap between seasons.

[Carlanga]

Originally Posted by djgeneral

The Walking Dead companion series pilot is a go.

EW can exclusively report that AMC has officially ordered a pilot set in the same zombie-plagued universe as TV’s top-rated drama series. The as-yet-untitled project will go into production later this year, and will be set in a different location than the original series and star a new cast of characters. (Since the characters are different, the series not technically a “spinoff.”)

The Walking Dead executive producers Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd and David Alpert are all on board for the new project. Dave Erickson (Sons of Anarchy) was tapped as showrunner back in March. Kirkman and Erickson recently turned in a pilot script, which we’re told really impressed AMC’s executive ranks.

Did they get that 'exclusive report' info from reading this thread lmao

[Walts Ghost]

‘The Walking Dead’ Spinoff Characters Revealed

As The Walking Dead shuffles toward its Season 5 premiere, AMC is readying some fresh meat feed the zombies. Details have just been revealed on the Walking Dead spinoff, which AMC says will explore “what is going on in the zombie apocalypse in other parts of the world.” Hit the jump to get the dirt.

Here’s TVLine‘s rundown of the new Walking Dead spinoff characters.

As previously reported, rumor has it that the new series will be a prequel of sorts set in the early days of the zombie pandemic, when the living still outnumbered the dead. For its part, AMC has stated only that the show would follow “an entirely new story and cast of characters” not tethered to Robert Kirkman‘s original comic book series.

Kirkman and Dave Erickson are writing the new show, with the latter serving as showrunner. For now, AMC has only ordered a pilot. The episode will shoot this fall and things will proceed from there. Assuming all goes well, we can probably look forward to meeting Sean, Cody, Nancy, and the rest of the gang next year.

In the meantime, The Walking Dead returns to AMC October 12.

Slashfilm

[Bodyslide]

My guess is this will die a quick death. One show is plenty.

[BluLobsta]

Not sure if this has been mentioned but Adam Davidson has been selected to direct. Looking forward to seeing this! I just noticed it

Community Director Adam Davidson To Direct The Walking Dead Companion Pilot

[Leonidas King]

I don't know how I feel about this.

[BluProofie]

I don't really see the point in this other than a cash grab.

[Walts Ghost]

‘Walking Dead’ Spinoff Gets Two Cast Members and a New Title

The Walking Dead spinoff is shuffling ahead with two new cast members and a new title. Frank Dillane and Alycia Debnam Carey have just boarded the AMC pilot, which is now going by the name Cobalt.

Co-created by The Walking Dead graphic novel writer Robert Kirkman and Sons of Anarchy writer Dave Erickson, the new series explores “what is going on in the zombie apocalypse in other parts of the world.” Adam Davidson is directing the pilot. More details on the new Walking Dead spinoff casting, including character details, after the jump.

According to Deadline, The Walking Dead spinoff will center around Sean Cabrera, a divorced male teacher, and Nancy Tompkins, a female guidance counselor. Dillane will play Nancy’s screwup teenage son Nick, who’s fighting a drug addiction. Debnam Carey will play Nancy’s ambitious and levelheaded daughter Ashley. In addition to Sean and Nancy, roles still remaining to be cast include Sean’s son Cody and “wilted flower child” Andrea.

As for the new title, Cobalt, your guess is as good as ours. Presumably its significance will be revealed as we get closer to the premiere date, but for now we got nothin’.

Rumor has it the new show will take place in the early days of the zombie apocalypse, but that hasn’t yet been confirmed. Meanwhile, the original Walking Dead continues to be a smash hit. This weekend’s mid-season finale was its most watched ever, with some 14.8 million viewers.

Dillane (who, yes, is the son of Game of Thrones actor Stephen Dillane) is best known for playing the teenaged Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. His upcoming projects include the Ron Howard drama In the Heart of the Sea. Debnam Carey is an Australian actress who made her American film debut this year with Into the Storm. AMC seems to really dig her — she also previously had a role in the AMC pilot Galyntine, which did not move forward.

Shooting on the Walking Dead spinoff a.k.a. Cobalt is expected to begin this month, which means we can probably look forward to meeting the new survivors sometime next year.

Slashfilm

[Thomas Veil]

Originally Posted by BluProofie

I don't really see the point in this other than a cash grab.

Well sure it is ..which is the motive for pretty much anything a network does. It's a business and this product is hot. I don't fault them for doing what any sensible network exec should do.