AMC is a cable network unafraid to put it all out there with material other wouldn't even approach.  It currently has three hugely popular flagship series; one is set in the 1960's and centers on philandering ad-man with identity issues, another follows a chemistry teacher-turned-meth-cook-turned-malicious-bastard, and the latest is a comic book adaptation set in the midst of a zombie apocalypse.  The second season premiere of The Walking Dead, based on the Image comic by Robert Kirkman, was the highest rated basic cable drama of all time, with 7.2 million viewers tuning in.  Only two episodes into the second season but established as AMC's most popular show, the network has officially renewed the zombie epic for a third season, which will presumably premiere just in time for Halloween in 2012.

When Image Comics began publishing a series authored by Robert Kirkman that followed the story of a group of uninfected trying to survive after the zombie apocalypse, it was less a matter of "if" it would be adapted to another medium but rather "when" and in "what" format.  While many of the novels written in the zombie genre seem to lend themselves to the movie format (such as the upcoming World War Z), the scope and visuals of The Walking Dead clearly would have been better served in the television format.

Luckily, AMC did not disappoint.  Their first 6 episode season of the television adaptation perfectly captured the tone of the Kirkman comics.  A huge reason for that was bringing Kirkman into the production not only as an Executive Producer, but also as a writer.  The high production value and impeccable makeup effects (actors playing zombies had to attend "Zombie School" in order to accurately move and walk like zombies) only served to push the envelope for the zombie genre.

After becoming a hugely-discussed home for transcendent televised drama series with Mad Men and Breaking Bad, cable network AMC surprised a whole lot of people The Walking Dead, a large-scale apocalyptic zombie tale based on the comic book by Robert Kirkman.  Despite initial trepidation from many potential viewers, the series premiere dropped last Halloween to huge ratings and widespread acclaim.  Directed by showrunner and The Shawshank Redemption helmer Frank Darabont, the premiere boasted the polish and sophistication of any feature film, and the bonus features included on the impending Blu-ray and DVD release of the first season provide insight into the production. 

A behind-the-scenes clip entitled 'We Are the Walking Dead' has made its way online, and it shows Darabont appraising an under-construction Abrams tank interior, as well as KNB Effects mastermind and consulting producer Greg Nicotero showing off the tremendous varieties of corpses.  There's even a look at "zombie school."

Stephen King is the most popular horror novelist on the planet, and the first season of AMC's highly watchable zombie series The Walking Dead featured some uneven writing, so how better to spice things up than to have King write an episode of the show's second season?  It makes sense, as the author has an established relationship with The Walking Dead showrunner Frank Darabont, who adapted King's The Shawshank Redemption and The Mist for film.

AMC has released a new trailer for its upcoming small screen adaptation of The Walking Dead, which premieres Halloween night, October 31 at 10pm. The new trailer seems to be more action-focused than the previous advertisements - it is almost edited together like a trailer for an intense action thriller. Executive produced and written by three-time Academy Award nominee Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption, Green Mile). Watch the trailer above now!

Synopsis: Police officer Rick Grimes leads a group of survivors in a world overrun by zombies.