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Death Comes Ripping

By TK | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (32)

walkingdead2.jpg

Ever since the news broke that Frank Darabont (The Mist) was adapting the absolutely, insanely good comic book series The Walking Dead into a series for AMC, I have been steadily tapping my foot. If you’ve read the series, you know — it is simply amazing. Brutal, vicious, unrelenting, and, considering the concept (survivors of the zombie apocalypse struggle to get by), refreshingly real and honest. It’s an all-around remarkable series — the characters are incredibly well fleshed-out, the stories are riveting, and the art is fantastic. Also? It will break your fucking heart. More than once.

But enough gushing. The big questions among the followers of the books have been about casting, and now we finally have some news. The first, and less exciting news, is that Jon Bernthal has been cast as Shane, a fellow police officer and friend of the main character, Sheriff Rick Grimes. Grimes himself has now been cast, and he’ll be played by Jonny Lee Miller. Miller, who’s British but should have no problem working out the accent, was most recently in the excellent Endgame, but most people remember him as Sickboy in Trainspotting. Or as Crash Override in Hackers, if there’s a giant sucking void in your brain. I actually really like him — he was very good in Endgame, and he pretty much looks the part:

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(image courtesy of Bloody Disgusting)

So we’ve got our lead, our director and our network. AMC has apparently ordered six episodes, which will make up the first season. We’ve also got our effects company — KNB Effects Group, who also did the effects for From Dusk Til Dawn and Bubba Ho-Tep.

Hot diggity.









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Comments

Mmmm Jonny Lee Miller!

Posted by: Anna von SPARKLYBeavershark at March 30, 2010 10:10 AM

Miller seems like a good choice but I hope he loses some weight before filming. He's been looking kind of porky lately and apocalypse survivors tend to be on the gaunt side of the spectrum.

Posted by: PaddyDog at March 30, 2010 10:13 AM

Kind of curious where they are going to film it. Is the prison going to be a massive sound stage or are they going to be able to use an actual prison? If they stick to the books, prepare for some BRUTAL shit to go down.

SPOILER AHEAD

At one point in the book about half of the main characters are slaughtered. It is shocking on the page but I have a hard time thinking AMC will let the television series go that far. But still excited for this show.

Did anyone see the Twitter/Facebook post from Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy) about The Walking Dead and specifically Frank Darabont? I guess Darabont "poached" one of Sutter's long time editors from SoA for The Walking Dead. Sutter make his displeasure known by absolutely blasting Darabont. It was brutal and you don't see that kind of vehemence expressed openly. Sutter has a good blog, it's worth checking out. Don't remember the link, though.

Posted by: TylerDFC at March 30, 2010 10:19 AM

I have one concern with this show: The comic series prominently features children, one of whom is the main character's son (who serves as his sole motivation to stay alive over time). They'll have to cast children.

When children are in a show like this, which has the potential to drag on for seasons (hopefully), inevitably producers feel the need to address the fact that the child is aging. I suppose the simplest solution would be to alter the time-line, so that the events take place over a longer stretch of time; or they could simply re-cast the character as someone slightly older, someone whose aging might not be so noticeable (13yo maybe).

However, adjusting the time-line would mean seriously altering other story arcs: the perils of winter cold for example, and the length of a pregnancy. And casting an older boy as the son means removing some of the dependence the characters feel for each other.

I'm wary. I'm EAGER, but that eagerness is tempered by apprehension.

Posted by: superasente at March 30, 2010 10:30 AM

SPOILER AHEAD

Thanks for the warning Tyler, it wasn't fast enough.

Posted by: Xtreme at March 30, 2010 10:36 AM

This better damn well happen. I won't be able to handle another Preacher fiasco.

Posted by: Mike at March 30, 2010 10:38 AM

Maybe they will just make the kids a little older? You certainly don't want to have that Walt on "Lost" problem.

I am excited by the news. AMC does quality work and this series is pretty great. I have a few TPBs laying around that I haven't gotten to yet. I have to work on that.

Posted by: Forbiddendonut at March 30, 2010 10:43 AM

I had no idea that this even existed. I shall look to rectify this immediately. I'm a bad Pajiban.

Posted by: admin at March 30, 2010 10:47 AM

Not who I would have picked, but good enough, I suppose. I'm also not too thrilled with their casting of Shane; Jon Bernthal doesn't seem right. Not enough manly, stubbled chin? Shane's just...bigger.

Posted by: Snath at March 30, 2010 10:53 AM

KNB EFX...

::squirm::

::pants juice::

Hopefully Chris Nelson (The Bride's husband to-be in Kill Bill) will be one of the on-set artists. That dude is fucking harsh and awesome with character appliances.

My buddy Derek works for KNB. So it's always good to here when something regular, with promise, comes along. Best effects going today.

Posted by: PissBoy at March 30, 2010 11:03 AM

im an avid fan of the books (i have them all), and the thought of a tv series was always on my mind. i find myself continuously cringing when the topic would come up online or in the letters in the comic itself. it seems a lot of people are wanting to see big name megastars filling principal roles.

i am quite the opposite. these are REAL people.. ORDINARY people. i want a cast of nobodies!!! now, that doesnt take away the fact that i LOVE trainspotting, and sick boy.. but.. i am a bit let down.

all that said.. i CAN NOT WAIT for the show to air!! so stoked... but again.. i wanted it to be nobodies.

Posted by: n at March 30, 2010 11:37 AM

I am unfamiliar with this (and therefore a bad Pajiban), but it sounds AWEsome.

And AMC has a track record of doing things right. So there's hope.

Posted by: MM at March 30, 2010 11:45 AM

Is the last week of Lent having a mass hysteria effect on Pajiba? What's with all these people self-identifying as "bad Pajibans"? Next there'll be flagellation and starvation diets, and a whole bunch of people walking around like they're auditioning for The Machinest at the local community theatre.

Posted by: PaddyDog at March 30, 2010 11:49 AM

Two Misfits titles in a row!

Posted by: Steph at March 30, 2010 12:12 PM

I couldn't read through this article fast enough. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this series! I am actually quite nervous because if they fuck it up, I will be livid. Livid I tell ya.

Also, I don't know if Miller is, ummm rugged? Enough for the role? I am with N and was kind of hoping it would be a cast of nobodies. If it has to be anyone, though I guess Miller is a fine choice.

Just don't fuck it up AMC.

Posted by: ashes at March 30, 2010 12:53 PM

When the zombie apocalypse comes you're all invited to join me on an island somewhere just off the coast of the southeast US (think Tybee without a bridge). We'll form squads that taxi over on a ferry and unload with pickups and a minivan full of armed-to-the-teeth motherfuckers in a minivan, hitting strategic points to restock on medicine/food/supplies/whatever. We are assuming that this is a zombie apocalypse in which the motherfuckers can't swim and still need to breathe oxygen.

I worked it all out in my head, we form our own society without currency, and you just do whatever it is you did before the apocalypse (computer guys, sorry, you're first up on ditch digging duty). We'll grow our own shit, make our own shit, and it'll all work out until some power-hungry asshole seeks to usurp power of our formerly utopian colony.

Posted by: D-Day at March 30, 2010 1:19 PM

Miller? Meh.

They've already started the downward slide...

Posted by: DeistBrawler at March 30, 2010 1:24 PM

I was hoping Pissboy would chime in about the effects company. Awesome. Makes me even more excited.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at March 30, 2010 1:31 PM

We'll grow our own shit, make our own shit, and it'll all work out until some power-hungry asshole seeks to usurp power of our formerly utopian colony.

Hi. You can start by doing the dishes and fetching me a comely wench or else I release the beavers.

Posted by: admin at March 30, 2010 1:46 PM

"a minivan full of armed-to-the-teeth motherfuckers in a minivan, hitting strategic points..."

Awesome! A minivan of people inside another minivan. Why has nobody thought of this before?

Posted by: PaddyDog at March 30, 2010 2:11 PM

PaddyDog re: the porkyness. Did you see the most recent Emma, which was execrable for so many reasons, one of them being the way Miller was absolutely STUFFED into his Regency waistcoats.

Hey, we all get porky sometimes, but, c'mon Macleane, you're my favorite of all of Angelina Jolie's exes. Get it together and shove it in Pitt's scraggly face. You have an accent, that's an advantage, roll with it.

Posted by: coveredinbees at March 30, 2010 2:32 PM

Are you sure they're not in a minivan, D-Day?

Posted by: superasente at March 30, 2010 2:49 PM

JLM also rocked in the little viewed and way to quickly canceled Eli Stone. Just some fun TV Viewing right there.

Posted by: slogirl at March 30, 2010 3:21 PM

coveredinbees:

Did I see it? You should know by now that I'm all over anything Austen with my genuine Regency vibrator ready to step in during the breaks. And yes, he was bursting out of his breeches. I was hoping he was coming off of a role where he had to gain weight, because that's not how my Mister Knightly shoud look.

Posted by: PaddyDog at March 30, 2010 3:46 PM

Mmmmmm, Regency era vibrator. Smells like steampunk.

Posted by: coveredinbees at March 30, 2010 6:59 PM

Duuuuuur....I can do da proofread in English all by myself.....

*headdesk*

Posted by: D-Day at March 30, 2010 10:08 PM

I liked Johnny Lee Miller on Trainspotting and Eli Stone and he doesnt sound too british to play a regular American guy, but I am not completely sold on his casting; I was expecting someone a little rougher.

Posted by: Radlum at March 30, 2010 10:41 PM

Ever since the news broke that Frank Darabont (The Mist)

Oh, sorry, I wouldn't know Darabont from that project, but I only really know him from one project you might have heard of called THE SHAWSHANK FRIGGIN' REDEMPTION.

The fuck is The Mist?!

Posted by: vic at March 31, 2010 4:27 AM

This sounds generally awesome, and I am a big fan of JLM, but AMC didn't exactly knock it out of the park with 'The Prisoner.' Cautiously optimistic.

Posted by: Mimi at March 31, 2010 5:32 AM

If it is 'constructive' and 'criticism', it is an Oxymoron. Nevertheless, 'constructive' is a tag picked up voluntarily and the procedure is purely subjective. If ever someone feels hurt, he should leave the field to the others. There is really concept called 'Swakucha mardanam' that implies self-gratification (because none else is coming forward to do it, without hurting). A discussion or a forum for it allows no self-centered human emotions.

Posted by: weight loss food at April 18, 2010 2:43 PM

Is there anyone who else who thinks this blog is a fictional story? Or maby its just me???

Posted by: ice cube bootlegs at July 29, 2010 9:27 AM

Wonderful site - But I think there is something wrong with the feed. Just wanted to let you know.

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