Once this season of THE WALKING DEAD ends, we won’t have to wait until Halloween for more zombie drama as AMC has greenlit the “companion series” for a two season run. The spin-off, code named COBALT, has begun production in Los Angeles with a cast including GONE GIRL’s Kim Dickens and Cliff Curtis, and is now set for a debut late in the summer.
COBALT’s first two seasons will follow the same pattern as THE WALKING DEAD when it debuted in 2010: the first season will consist of six episodes followed by a full season in 2016. Whether the two series will continue to alternate or run concurrently is unknown, but it looks like for the foreseeable future we will be getting almost year-round zombie goodness.
Charlie Collier, AMC president, had this to say about the new series.
“We take incredibly seriously the notion of building a satisfying companion series to the number one show on television. From the beginning of ‘The Walking Dead’ on AMC, we’ve been asked questions about what was going on in other parts of the zombie apocalypse, and what it looked like as the world really did ‘turn.’ Through this new series, we’re going to find out. We respectfully follow the request of Monty Python as we bring out (the latest of) our Dead.”
THE WALKING DEAD has remained a ratings powerhouse for AMC even as their marquee shows BREAKING BAD and MAD MEN have wrapped up their runs. While many thought a spin-off was a bad idea, the success of BETTER CALL SAUL has proven that AMC has put in the effort to make sure these new shows are not just a cash grab. Here’s hoping COBALT follows suit.
COBALT debuts on AMC this summer.