Ghouls on Film

I sat in for a sec on the “Walking Dead” panel.  Got some vaguely fleshy bits of news.

Robert Kirkman is writing an episode and he had this to say about the show overall:

“I didn’t really want to do a movie. You can’t do the zombie movie that never ends because that doesn’t make any sense.  Television always seemed like a tough sell – Zombieland TV. But to see it happen and to see it happen in such a great way with so many excellent people involved …  and to see AMC really get behind it …. commit to  making a zombie show and pushing the limits as far a what they’ll be showing … it’s remarkable. Every step along the way everything’s been perfect.”

Some other goodies:

• Global launch of “The Walking Dead” in 250 million households in 120 countries almost simultaneously.
• Greg Nicotero said they pull some visuals directly from the graphic novel. “George Romero said to me back when I worked on ‘Day of the Dead’ if you show people how to perform as a zombie you’ll have 50 people doing exactly the same thing.” So they hand-picked the zombies for their tortured walks.
• Frank Darabont said that although the novel provides a strong template for the art they will not be slavish to the original work.
• Kirkman said that he’s want the comic and the show to exist separately but be equally compelling. He’s taking good parts, expanding, adding new things.
• Charlie Adlard will be a zombie.
• The newest cast member was confirmed: Michael Rooker will be Merle Dixon.
• Bear McCreary will compose.

My thoughts on the first clips of the show: We saw the scene where Rick gets shot and wakes up in the hospital. It looks extremely close to the first book. Not panel for panel, but it has all the elements. The zombies look great and are almost carbon copies of the book. There’s definitely a fair amount of gore. Got a look at the zombie they put out of misery, she looks like Lady Mrs. the Crypt Keeper. I am looking forward to seeing how they expand upon the storyline.