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Coming Attractions Has Read Frank Darabont’s Teleplay For AMC’s WALKING DEAD Zombie Pilot & Says It's Good & Gory!!
I am – Hercules!!
AMC last week greenlit to pilot “The Walking Dead,” writer-director Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s graphic novel series. The funnybook, set in a world overrun by zombies, follows a handful of survivors in search of a safe place to live.
Darabont's credits as a writer-director include "The Shawshank Redemption," "The Green Mile" and "The Mist." AMC is the channel behind "Breaking Bad" and multiple outstanding-drama Emmy winner "Mad Men."
Patrick Sauriol at Coming Attractions has read the pilot script and says it may be as good as we were all hoping. Excerpt:
So, here is the big question: does Darabont's Walking Dead pilot have the necessary ingredients to be not just a decent horror TV series but a good drama?
The answer: Yes, it does.
Contained in Darabont's 60-page pilot script are all the elements to make the show a success. There's plenty of horror that happens in those 60 pages. The director's script covers the broad range of the zombie horror emotional spectrum, such as giving us moments of extreme gore (hey, any zombie TV show wouldn't be a zombie show if it didn't have folks being munched on!), moments of shock value (hey, you didn't think that there was a zombie hiding behind that car, did you?) and the moments that I believe are the best indicator that The Walking Dead TV series has what it takes to transcend the boundaries of being simply labelled a horror show, the psychological horror scenes. Those scenes are the hammers that you're going to remember and the ones that are going to propel this show to be viewed as something more important than just a scary show.
Another:
The Walking Dead pilot doesn't sell out its concept for the sake of finding a wider audience. This is a show set in a world where families have died and the survivors haven't had the time to cope with their losses, much less come to terms with civilization collapsing around them. Knowing the course that Kirkman's comic book takes and now after seeing how Darabont's chose to make the pilot more of a drama than a flat-out horror action show, AMC's Walking Dead has fantastic potential. The Walking Dead could even do for horror what the new Battlestar Galactica did for science fiction. Cross your fingers and hope that the show comes together as well as it did on the page.
Find all of Coming Attractions’ review of the pilot script (which starts in earnest about six paragraphs in) here.
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CHEAPEST LOST EVER!!
$16.99 Season One!!
$16.99 Season Two!!
$19.99 Season Four!!
February 9!!
The answer: Yes, it does.
Contained in Darabont's 60-page pilot script are all the elements to make the show a success. There's plenty of horror that happens in those 60 pages. The director's script covers the broad range of the zombie horror emotional spectrum, such as giving us moments of extreme gore (hey, any zombie TV show wouldn't be a zombie show if it didn't have folks being munched on!), moments of shock value (hey, you didn't think that there was a zombie hiding behind that car, did you?) and the moments that I believe are the best indicator that The Walking Dead TV series has what it takes to transcend the boundaries of being simply labelled a horror show, the psychological horror scenes. Those scenes are the hammers that you're going to remember and the ones that are going to propel this show to be viewed as something more important than just a scary show.
CHEAPEST LOST EVER!!
$16.99 Season One!!
$16.99 Season Two!!
$19.99 Season Four!!
February 9!!
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Maybe this will pave the way for WORLD WAR Z series
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should be fun
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Made robots hot?
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I still cling to hope that someone awesome will pick up the charred remains of PREACHER and resurrect it on HBO. Jesse Custer, Cassidy, Herr Starr and Saint of Killers are too cool to remain lost in limbo.
I know there is no shortage of shows involving vampires but Charlie Huston's JOE PITT CASEBOOKS would make for an incredible horror/crime series. ALREADY DEAD may as well be a VHS tape because everything in it is cinematic gold. Vampires haven't been this vicious and funny since ANGEL.
Clive Barker's Great & Secret Show would make a lovely series too, especially if the BBC handled it and gave people like Steve Moffatt the reins to create it. -
I love the comic, and the BSG comparison made me even happier. AMC, please do the right thing and cast Ben Browder as Rick and Robert Knepper as The Governor.
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Jan 25, 2010 3:33:20 PM CST
"Walking Dead could do for horror what the new BSG did for sci-f
by spyguy
Have two really kickass seasons, then become all self-important and just wing the last two, giving the series a bullshit copout ending with angels and a preachy, ham-handed message in the last couple of minutes?
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Oh, and that's the James Robinson/Tony Harris STARMAN series with DC Comics' Jack Knight, not that Jeff Bridges/Robert Hays nonsense.
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Going to pick it up after I am through with Y: The last man.
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It's up to issue #69 now I think. Very adult in tone, with good, simple black & white artwork. It's a very serious story, and very entertaining all the way through. I've been hooked for a few years now. Counting the days till the next issue. This comic really stands apart from all others in telling a good story with good characters that never gets stale. I can't wait to see this on TV.
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I'm glad I read those Starman comics before I watched the Justice League series because I never would've known The Shade could be horrifying. The cartoon kinda made him into a dapper goof but in the series he was intelligent, callous and lethal. Solomon Grundy was awesome too. I remember reading his origin story and finding it incredibly sad and moving, two things the comic handled very well.
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It's only fair.
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Though I heard it was amazing.I want a Marvel Zombies TV show! Yes, I know they are stupid comics, but it would be all kinds of fucked-up awesomeness!
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"(hey, you didn't think that there was a zombie hiding behind that car, did you?) "
Fail. -
I scrolled down to the talkback expecting those and wasn't disappointed.
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And I hope to God they stay that way
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I heard a year ago that it was about to start production with the director of Quantum of Solace, then I never heard anything again. Hello AICN?
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Last I heard Foster was out, and the script is still being worked on. Oh well.
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Haven't read it myself, but I do recall Moriarty here gave it a rave, and Brooks himself loved it.
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Kudos to Corona Coming Attractions!
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as idonotseekabanning.
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...give us the show already!
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It would be great to see both on the box.
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The comic is flat out great and is NOT just gore-story. It's all about the characters and survival. Good fodder for a well written/produced TV show... let's hope they don't fuck it up or turn it into social commentary about Afgan/Iraq. If that's what's in store for us, I wish they would just write about what REALLY happened in the 1940's and tell us the stories of the German/Japanese freedom fighters and how imperialism over came their efforts.
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Yeah, BSG kicked me in the ballbag too, at that dumbass fucking ending. I was all with that show until the last season. What a fumble in the last quarter.
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And Yorick needs to be Joseph Gordon-Levitt. If wet, get Callum Blue.
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Where's it going, FFS? I gave up after Volume 7. Lots of zombie menace, survivors seek a place to hole up and regroup, human menace outweighs zombie menace, someone major dies, humans move on. Repeat. And repeat. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand repeat.
I'm gonna need this to move towards something, because it's almost as repetitive as the BBC remake of SURVIVORS. Best cure for insomnia in a loooong time... -
My buddy was shitting all over this because Frank Darabont was doing it. I can't wait til this comes out and he eats his words.
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It did a lot more than those lame Star Wars prequels managed to do.
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...that ol' JGL gets such love on here and Shia gets shuch hate. Don't get me wrong, loved "Third Rock" and hate having to even think about saying "Shia" or "Leboeuf". But I honestly think a lot of the hate comes down to the poor bastards name.
I mean, McG would get a lot of shit for some of his crimes against humanity, but not as much if weren't for the name. -
Hurry up an shoot this thing...
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...one trade too soon.
...no one is safe... -
Anybody?
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... the artwork and situations were great. Top notch stuff for zombie fans. But man, the writing was terrible. Just some corny as hell dialogue. The conflict and arguments between the protagonist and his jealous best friend who had the hots for the guy's wife spring to mind. I'm guessing w/ the popularity of the whole thing, that people either don't agree w/ me or the writing got better. I think the show will kick ass and be an improvement though. Can't wait . . .
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You were there to pull my head out of the gutter on this one, I found hope and now I'm pretty much sold. I will be watching this.
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Jan 25, 2010 8:57:42 PM CST
This is where comic book adaptations need to go: television.
by rbatty024
Comic books tell serialized stories, stories that are too big to fit in two hours. Vertigo should think about creating multiple TV shows around its comic book properties. They have some great properties.
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http://www.mediafire.com/?hnlwz3zz1mj
it's no longer being used, but its an interesting read. i actually got to read the walking dead teleplay this weekend after it leaked on a screenplay forum i use and it really is a fantastic read. im really excited by the few changes that were made. -
Jesus christ, that was my first movie rumor website. Talk about memories. I remember reading about this script, "The Mercury Effect", that I so desperately wanted to be made... also I once sent in a scoop about "Blues Bros. 2000" because they were filming at one of the prisons in my home town. Wow. Past. Blasted.Also this news is awesome news.
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...So the zombies are going to accept Jesus?
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I remember the site when it was just text. Oh how times change.
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But Birds of Prey pretty much killed it before it could get out of development. Good thing probably, because it was being developed by the idiots who used to be in charge of Smallville. We were all saved the agony of having to see Emo-Teen Jack Knight.
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Darabont + AMC + Walking Dead = possibly better than Mad Men, which is one of my top 3 shows of all time.The Mist is still the best horror film of the past few years in my humble opinion. Maybe even best of the last decade.
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I think it should be done as a raw and gritty faux-documentary series. Get Ken Burns and Neill Blomkamp to collaborate on it, and it could retain the feel of the book I think, but in visual and audio form.If they don't do it this way, I don't know if I want a 2-3 hour Hollywood film version of it.
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Just passed Titanic
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Wrong analogy. Sheesh.
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"My buddy was shitting all over this because Frank Darabont was doing it.".....uuhhh..come again. You should stop being his friend.The Mist is a modern horror classic due to Darabont. I was about ready to write the genre off completely until I heard Darabont was involved. This sounds awesome and comparing it to BSG only makes me more horny...I mean excited.
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yup, I think that pretty much sums it up...
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I mean, AMC is basic cable. That means no high level swear words, no nudity (apart from brief butt shots), and a limit on the amount of gore that can actually be shown. Basically AMC is just like FX and SyFy in that regard. Better and a little more tolerant than network tv, in so far as what can be shown, but not by that much at the end of the day.
Now AMC still make some great shows, Breaking Bad and Mad Men amongst them, but I can't help feeling that the show would have been far better suited to a premium cable channel such as Showtime or HBO, where they could show whatever content they wished to, without having to limit themselves and tone certain things back. We'll have to wait and see I guess, and if they are smart they'll shoot harder material to be added back in for the eventual dvd release, but I can't help feeling that this is going to be Walking Dead Lite.<Then again, maybe the restrictions will make them a little more creative, script wise. Stranger things have happened, after all...
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Third Rock from the Sun is your point of reference for Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Maybe you should see Brick or The Lookout and compare that to say, Eagle Eye or Disturbia and decide who is more deserving of our hatred.
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Has there ever been a successful TV series about a zombie apocalypse before? Or even an unsuccessful one? I can't think of any off the top of my head. Either way, I'll most definitely be catching this series.
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..I hope it will remain faithful to the series although I bet they rethink ( reimagine being the new word ) the opening of the hospital since 28 Days Later already used it.
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I actually think the storyline will benefit from the TV process.
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I've wanted to read that script ever since it was reviewed on the site.
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Agree. It plays like a soap opera a little too much, with everyone bickering, threatening to kill each other, jumps each others bones and crying a lot for my tastes as well. Everyones emotional, and it seems like only the thick survived.
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I can't wait for this. I thought it was only a rumor but alas.
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In answer to your question, the british did a five episode series about a zombie apocalypse unfolding on the set of Big Brother called DEAD SET. And it was fucking awesome from top to bottom. It's available on DVD
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I would be SO there.
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I'm not a huge fan of slow, shuffling zombies.
Although, slow shufflers can be more horrifying. Impending doom in slow-motion, like chinese water torture, would really suck. -
the only kind of zombies there are.
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CAN'T WAIT. I haven't been this excited for a television show since Angel.
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and no movie with Shia in it, I want a series, 2-3 seasons, 12 eps a season would be great thanks
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AMC seem to be doing good things
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Does Harry require that you use it?
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It's just writers showing their age. The word comes from an time where comic books were mostly found in newspapers in strip form, shit like Peanuts & Dick Tracy was the order of the day. Basically when Action Comics and it's ilk came into prominence the media demonized comics and one of the ways they belittled the industry was by calling them Funnybooks.
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Totally thrilled for this show. I'm a huge fan of the comic, but I do have to agree that I dont think AMC is the right fit for this kind of show (not to try and diminish the quality of any of their existing shows, mind you)... Especially if the show follows the comic, how would any of the time devoted to The Governor work? I just can't see it happening on Basic Cable
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Look at what's being done on TV these days.
Raped in the Butt = Sons of Anarchy
Dismemberment = 24
Massive Killing = Heroes (god forbid)
I mean, the toughest thing for AMC to try to do would be the "kid storylines" from TWD. But I don't see why they couldn't do everything with the Gov and Mich. -
All hail Charlie Brooker, Emperor of Bile and Most Cynical Bastard On The Planet. He makes john Constantine look like Richard Simmons.
I'll catch THE WALKING DEAD because of Darabont (THE MIST was one of the best horror movies this decade), because I do think it'll be better as a series than a comic, and because - well, ya gotta support the cause of zombies on TV!
Given the choice, though, I'd much rather have had a ZOMBIELAND series than WALKING DEAD. And the movie confirms that I'd even fuck Amber Heard's rotting corpse, she is THAT hot. -
TWILIGHT's done enough to retard the credibility of geek culture for the next 100 years, we don't need you referring to comics the way disapproving parents did back in the 1960s. It's not a cute affectation, it's disrespectful.
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I'll give THE WALKING DEAD Volume 8 a go. Is it any better than the preceding 7??
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It warms my heart to find another Charlie Brooker fan here at AICN. I absolutely adore that doofus and pay attention to everything he does. NATHAN BARLEY remains one of my favorite shows of all time. It's frightening how accurately it predicts the Rise Of The Idiots epidemic we're currently experiencing in society. The man is bleeding brilliant
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And the Zombie Apocalypse is on!
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But I do. I cannot wait for this!
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Like most advertiser-supported networks, AMC edits programming for certain "objectionable" content, including nudity and offensive language. As a national network available on basic cable, AMC adheres to standards that will be acceptable to the majority of our viewers, our sponsors and our cable and satellite affiliates.
Given how dark the themes of the book are, I just don't see it working on AMC. And violence is different than gore, and more easily permitted on tv, network or cable. And the Sons of Anarchy rape scene was more implied than shown, relying on extreme face close ups and damn good acting, which again, just proves my point. I still, in my mind justifiably, fear that on AMC this will in fact be The Walking Dead Lite. It can still be a good show regardless, but I by the very nature of where it is airing it is going to be forced to pull it's punches in a lot of regards.
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Every Monday and Saturday I pop onto the Guardian website to see what he has to say - SCREEN BURN is usually his Saturday column and COMMENT is the Monday one. Occasionally he comes across as trying too hard, or just being a cynical arsehole for the sake of it, but then he says or does something spectacularly self-effacing, and I'm back on his side!
Brooker is telling it like it is... What's not to like? Nice to meet a kindred spirit!! -
I don't know why but I feel compelled to put a plug in to adapt this graphic novel. If you haven't read it, you should do so. Soleil: Universal War One- Revelations. Nothing to do with zombies though...Well maybe, there's one dude in there who could pass for a zombie.
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Have you had a chance to see his GAMESWIPE show? It was excellent, every bit as entertaining as the two other WIPE shows he's put on. I wasn't all that crazy about YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING. I only saw two episodes but, besides the fact that it might just be the most inconsequential game show ever created, I hated the panelists he would choose. They all came off smug as hell, which Charlie Brooker is equally guilty of, but he counterbalances it with self-deprecating humor and sincerity.
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You, my friend, are the mutherfucking MAN!
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It's like calling your television a "boob tube". It's neither amusing nor witty, just stupid.
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Don't worry about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gApZlK9jZzQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46_4pUuc9gA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4e9tda2nCc
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