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TV: It’s a ‘Walking Dead’ Bonanza! Featuring, a Motion Comic, Contests and More!

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Gearing up for the San Diego Comic-Con, AMC TV unloaded all sorts of goodies surrounding their live-action TV series of The Walking Dead, a new zombie epic beginning this October. The show is based on Robert Kirman’s comic, which has been animated into a special online comic now available inside! Also beyond the break, you’ll find a new behind-the-scenes image and interview with Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd, along with details on how YOU could transform into one of the undead and win a chance to be a walk-on zombie!
MOTION COMIC

Since you’ve read every issue of Robert Kirkman’s epic zombie comic book series and you’re eagerly anticipating Frank Darabont’s upcoming adaptation, you may also be wondering what to do with your additional spare time? Why not witness the beginning of The Walking Dead in full-blown animation. See how it all begins when artist Tony Moore’s original artwork is brought to life by the animators at Juice Films and voice actor Phil LaMarr.

INTERVIEW WITH EXECUTIVE PRODUCER GALE ANNE HURD

AMC posted the following interview with Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd:

The producer of such genre hits as The Terminator and Aliens describes The Walking Dead’s blockbuster potential, its commonalities with Piranha, and what makes zombies only the second-most dangerous characters in the series.

Q: What attracted you to The Walking Dead?

A: I have been a longtime fan of the comic. I also love the zombie genre, my zombie fandom going way back to Night of the Living Dead. And The Walking Dead is truly the ultimate representation of that sensibility in the comic book genre.

Q: You began your career working for Roger Corman. Does The Walking Dead remind you of his horror movies in any way?

A: Roger produced classic genre films as well as straightforward exploitation movies. If you go back to his Edgar Allan Poe films, the unpredictability of human nature is at the core of both. From Roger’s New World Pictures films, especially those written by John Sayles, like Piranha, they share the complex character elements of Robert Kirkman’s comic book series as adapted and directed by Frank Darabont.

Q: Frank Darabont directed the pilot, but other directors are helming the following episodes. Have you found it difficult to balance their visions with Frank’s?

A: No it’s actually been ideal since Frank directed the pilot adjacent to the subsequent episodes. Typically a pilot is shot months in advance, and there’s an intervening period during which the cast might lose the cohesiveness they shared while filming the first episode. In out case, the cast worked with Frank for our 14-day pilot shoot and then immediately began work on the next five episodes. In addition, Frank has spent a great deal of time on set, and is always available to us. Frank’s writing is both evocative in setting the tone and feel of each scene and quite specific vis a vis character, so it’s pretty easy for our directors to stay on the same page.

Q: You’re known for producing blockbusters like Terminator and Aliens. How is The Walking Dead similar?

A: I think what our series shares in common with those films in particular is that the best genre films are character driven. And while they have an intriguing premise and terrific special effects, at the end of the day they’re rooted in complex characters and great stories. At the same time, neither compromises on production value: Every eight days we shoot a miniature version of a tentpole movie. What’s so wonderful about The Walking Dead is that we’re able to explore human nature in its most depraved as well as its most humanitarian in each episode. We strip each character down to their most basic survival instincts — or lack thereof. It’s actually the zombies who are the most predictable: You know what zombies are after. What you can’t anticipate is how one surviving human is going to interact with another. And that’s what keeps the series fresh and compelling.

Q: Robert Kirkman has said he hopes the show goes on for 27 seasons. Can you envision that?

A: Oh absolutely! He’s sitting next to me right now, and we’ve talked about how our ensemble cast members either transcend or fall victim to their baser human instincts, so there’s plenty of fodder for at least 27 seasons.

Q: You’re getting ready to head to Comic-Con. As a veteran there, what are you looking forward to?

A: We’re absolutely thrilled that AMC has agreed to let us screen exclusive footage from Frank’s pilot episode for our Comic-Con audience, for the very first time anywhere. Frank and I are fans ourselves, and we want fans of The Walking Dead to see sequences that can really sink their teeth into [Laughs]. I’m hoping there will be a great deal of zombie love.

Q: Now that we’ve gotten a good look at the walkers, tell me honestly: Do they creep you out?

A: I love them, are you kidding?! I’m a genre girl from way back — this is my idea of heaven. Yesterday we were all looking at zombie bite tests Greg [Nicotero] created that almost made the videographer throw up, and all I could do was say, “That’s awesome, I love it!” I think that anyone who’s a fan of the genre or a fan of Robert Kirkman’s work will not be disappointed when they see the series.

Q: Speaking of Greg, he got dressed as a walker for one of the episodes. Do you have any inclination to do the same?

A: Well, you know, [Laughs] maybe Season 2. You don’t want all of your dreams fulfilled in the first season. So I’m very much hoping that we’ll get an order for Season 2, and I’ll be first to send in my application to attend zombie school!

ENTER TO BE A ZOMBIE!

Ever dreamed of being a zombie? Now’s your chance, with AMC’s The Walking Dead Sweepstakes. Visit the site and fill out the online form and you’ll be entered in a random drawing to win a four-day, three-night trip to the location of The Walking Dead’s Season 2 production, plus the opportunity to become one of the undead in a Season 2 episode of The Walking Dead. (Exact specifics of the walk-on role will be determined at the producer’s sole discretion.) The sweepstakes will run from Tue., Jul. 20, through Sun., Aug. 15. Entrants may enter the sweepstakes one time only throughout the entire sweepstakes period.

COMIC-CON

Want to get an early look at The Walking Dead? If you’re attending Comic-Con this year, you’ll have a chance since AMC’s The Walking Dead Comic-Con booth recreates a scene from the pilot episode.

At the booth, attendees can either watch zombie footage playing on nearby televisions or use touch-screen monitors to “zombify” themselves. Also at the booth, staff will be distributing free swag like postcards, buttons and other goodies. On Fri., Jul. 23 from 4PM to 4:45PM, The Walking Dead’s Executive Producer, Writer and Director Frank Darabont will be at the booth to sign posters.

Can’t make the Con? Don’t worry! AMCtv.com will be on site updating you with photos, videos, news and more — so much so, you’ll swear you were there.

Horror movie fanatic who co-founded Bloody Disgusting in 2001. Producer on Southbound, V/H/S/2/3/94, SiREN, Under the Bed, and A Horrible Way to Die. Chicago-based. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Taco Bell daily. Franchise favs: Hellraiser, Child's Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Scream and Friday the 13th. Horror 365 days a year.

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‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ Adds “Chucky” Actor Teo Briones and More to Lead Cast

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Chucky Actor Teo Briones
Pictured: Teo Briones in "Chucky" Season Two

The Final Destination franchise is returning to life with Final Destination: Bloodlines. With filming now underway, THR reports that three actors have joined the lead cast, including “Chucky” actor Teo Briones.

Brec Bassinger (“Stargirl”) and Kaitlyn Santa Juana (The Friendship Game) join Teo Briones, who played Junior Wheeler in season two of “Chucky,” as the leads in the sixth installment of the horror franchise.

Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein (Freaks) are directing the fresh installment that also includes Richard Harmon (“The 100”, Grave Encounters 2), Anna Lore, Owen Patrick Joyner, Max Lloyd-Jones (The Book Of Boba Fett), Rya Kihlstedt (Obi Wan Kenobi), and Tinpo Lee (The Manor) among the cast.

Production is now underway in Vancouver.

What can we expect from the upcoming Final Destination 6? Speaking with Collider, franchise creator Jeffrey Reddick offered up an intriguing (and mysterious) tease last year.

“This film dives into the film in such a unique way that it attacks it from a different angle so you don’t feel like, ‘Oh, there’s an amazing setup and then there’s gonna be one wrinkle that can potentially save you all that you have to kind of make a moral choice about or do to solve it.’ There’s an expansion of the universe that – I’m being so careful,” Reddick teased.

Reddick continued, “It kind of unearths a whole deep layer to the story that kind of, yes, makes it really, really interesting.”

Final Destination: Bloodlines is written by Lori Evans Taylor (“Wicked Wicked Games”) and Guy Busick (Scream), with Jon Watts (Spider-Man: No Way Home) producing.

Producers on the new movie for New Line Cinema also include Dianne McGunigle (Cop Car) as well as Final Destination producers Craig Perry and Sheila Hanahan Taylor.

This will be the sixth installment in the hit franchise, and the first in over ten years. Each film centers on “Death” hunting down young friends who survive a mass casualty event.

The latest entry is expected in 2025, coinciding with the original film’s 25th anniversary.

 

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