The Comic-Con is one of the craziest, greatest places to be if you are a fan of scifi, horror, comic books, action movies, you name it. Every turn you make is something new (and something to buy). The Green Hornet car is parked outside. The street signs outside are written in klingon. Half the people walking around you are dressed up in some kind get up from Darth Vader to Tigger. None of that was why we were at San Diego Comic-Con though.
Friday July 23, 2010, was a day we at Hug A Zombie were giddy in excitement because the new AMC show "The Walking Dead" panel was at 11:30am. As I sat in my seat, 3rd row center, the lights dimmed low. Next thing I knew, Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually), Jon Bernthal (The Pacific), Sarah Wayne Callies (Prison Break), Laurie Holden (The Mist), Emma Bell (Law and Order), series creator/director/executive producer Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption), executive producer Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator), make up artist Greg Nicotero, Joel Stillerman (AMCs senior VP), and the one and only Robert kirkman (creator/writer of The Walking Dead comic) were sitting in front of me. Hell yeah, I was in heaven!
Robert Kirkman said this, "I know a lot of you read the comic. I don't want any of you that have read the comic and is watching the show to say, "oh I know what is going to come next". I want the comic and the show to exist separately, and (the show) be just as compelling and have as many surprises as possible." He also added that it would not stray to far from the comic we were use too. After seeing the preview of AMCs The Walking Dead I must agree. It was like the pages sprung to life, and I must say, It maybe one of the best, if not the best show TV will have soon. After the showing was over, the panel received a standing ovation. I am not surprised, the preview was unbelievable! Here are some screen shots of the new show.
The show will be launched on AMCs Fear Fest in October. The music composer was announced at the panel, and it is none other than Bear McCreary of Battlestar Galactica fame. Bear promised that he was doing his best to keep the music and sound affect fresh and not have the same predictability we are use to hearing over and over in most zombie films. He also added to not be afraid, it will still have some of the familiar tones and he wasn't getting to crazy. As you can see from the panel roll call, the people involved is no joke. Frank Darabont said that they even went as far as filming the zombies in super 16 film to give them that gritty, spooky feel. Not only did that hit the mark, all that work would of meant nothing without the fantastic make up work by Greg Nicotero. The zombies looked great!
The graphic novel is filled with character development and action . It is ground-breaking and holds its own even without the zombies. The TV show will not disappoint. As I said before, I was totally blown away by the preview. I am sure it will go down in the history books i.e. Night of the Living Dead. As a matter of fact, they hinted that George Romero maybe a guest director in future.
It looks like our love affair with zombies will only grow stonger with AMCs The Walking Dead. We at HUZ will be at the edge of our seats in October, I have no doubt that you will be too.
