THE WALKING DEAD Article You Need to Read - Frank Darabont talks NBC, Straying from the Comics & Ending the Show

The world may still be plagued by "walkers" but hope is in the air. THE WALKING DEAD season one is in the books and director Frank Darabont is ready for a breather. And who can blame him? The production schedule to get the first six episodes television ready would make any grown man cry. Maybe even a geek or two for that matter. While sitting down with Entertainment Weekly magazine in their latest issue, the series creator discusses everything fans of the show will want to know...

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Right out of the gate Darabont talks about how passionate he was to get this project off the ground after reading THE WALKING DEAD comics, written by acclaimed writer Robert Kirkman. Darabont loved the idea of a series continuing after the zombie apocalypse took over and claimed everything we once knew. The hero "riding off in the sunset" endings we were used to seeing in classic zombie movies never addressed the full issues at hand. What happens when the outbreak can't be stopped? What takes place after all hell breaks loose and only a few survivors remain?

It was that concept that Darabont took to studio execs in 2005 after securing the rights to create a show. From NBC to other major studios, he and comic creator Robert Kirkman shopped the "would be" hit TV series with no takers in sight. The networks felt the "doom, gloom and gore" series wouldn't fit well with today's "Dancing with the Stars" type programs.. Insert AMC, the basic cable network, into the mix and all things changed and quickly. The execs at AMC saw THE WALKING DEAD as a great opportunity to cement their stronghold in offering solid, new properties to their rapidly expanding television lineup. Add to the mix AMC's hugely successful "FearFest" - a two week slate of horror films leading up to Halloween - and it was a perfect fit.

Obviously AMC made the right decision. THE WALKING DEAD in six short episodes has proved it can hang with the other Hollywood big boys. As to why this season was stuck with being just six short episodes long was simply due to AMC wanting the show to premiere after their most popular programing lineup - "FearFest". Because of that tight schedule, Darabont and staff had to shoot the episodes quickly in Atlanta, Georgia during one of the hottest heat waives the area had ever seen. Add into the mix the fact that AMC wasn't sure they would be able to renew the show if it bombed and you had a recipe of uncertainly. Basically Darabont had to rush to get it on TV and then ended it without a big "cliffhanger" ending because he frankly didn't know if the show would be back. It obviously will be, with the shows ratings do extremely well, but fans will have a lengthy wait because season two doesn't hit until, get this, October 31st of 2011. A long time for fans to wait and a risk AMC is hoping will pay off.

As for the much heated "forum" and social network debates about the show straying from the comic book material Darabont added this. It simply couldn't maintain the exact continuity and comic book creator Robert Kirkman didn't want it to. When he started the comics in 2003, he himself had no idea if it would take off. So what did Kirkman do? Well, he stuffed as much story into the early issues as possible simply to get his story out there in case it was canceled. It never came to that point as the comic is currently in its 79th issue, but a lot of things weren't built up as slowly as Kirkman might have liked.

Another big concern Darabont had was making sure the show has a solid end point. He and Kirkman will get together to create a point where they both agree the story will stop. It's the TV show "LOST" type syndrome Darabont is wanting to avoid thus making sure the series has a proper sendoff when it eventually ends. A master-plan is always good when trying to put out the best product you can. Now comes a few SPOILER ALERTS for those of you that haven't read the comic.

So we will say SPOILER ALERT again, our avoidance for hateful e-mails knows no bounds does it?

Will the infamous Governor appear in the TV show as he is a large part of the comics? Darabont assures fans the Governor will make it into the show and he is looking forward to it! Also expect the prison scene to be a large part as well. When asked by EW Darabont joked about going back a prison. After all he did direct THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and THE GREEN MILE. "I can't seem to get away from prion." teased the director. As for speculation that Merle will end up being the Governor Darabont replied, "Really? Interesting, I'm saying nothing." Should we read into that? Hmmm.

Be sure to pick up the latest copy of Entertainment Weekly to read the entire article. Fans of horror reading this right now, this show is putting our believed genre into he homes of those bright eyed, innocent, non-horror fans. It will eventually lead to a life of loving the genre thus creating more interest for an overwhelmingly fan driven segment of the movie industry. THE WALKING DEAD doing well for AMC is not just good for AMC, but horror fans in general. And that Bidites is why we can wait patiently till Halloween 2011 for season two to begin.

Source: EW

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