AMC’s The Walking Dead Trailer and Premiere Date
AMC has officially released a trailer for their new Frank Darabont produced and directed zombie drama series, The Walking Dead. The trailer was first seen at this summer’s San Diego Comic-Con and has had fans buzzing ever since. Along with the release of the trailer, AMC has confirmed a Halloween premiere date (at 10pm EST) and has announced that the pilot episode has been expanded to 90 minutes.
The Walking Dead stars Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Adam Minarovich, Chandler Riggs and Michael Rooker. Watch the four-plus minute trailer right now after the jump!
As a fan of the source material, I have to say that the trailer looks like it captured the best of Robert Kirkman’s work and may have even elevated it in some cases. As a fan of cinema, my one complaint is that they didn’t find a way around the graphic novel’s obvious 28 Days Later-influenced opening. That aside, this looks like a lot of fun. I almost can’t get it through my head that we are actually going to have a zombie television series! Or, at least the first six episodes. Let’s hope that it is good and that if it is good, the general public can latch onto it so we’ll get more down the line.
What do you think? Will this be able to capture the interest of general audiences enough to sustain a series? More Walking Dead-related press materials are available online at AMC.
Comments (32)
Did a seven year old edit this trailer
Posted by James on August 24th, 2010Damn, can’t see this trailer in my country.
Posted by Stephen on August 24th, 2010Updated with a YouTube embed. Hopefully that works better for some people.
Posted by Sean on August 24th, 2010I’ll be more than happy to check out the first couple of episodes, but this looks like it might put a bullet in the head of the zombie genre for TV audiences.
Posted by Gil on August 24th, 2010@Gil, how do you figure? This looks great, the comic series it’s based on is great and Darabont is always good for a quality product.
Posted by Ben on August 24th, 2010Big fan you are of KirkHam’s work? Maybe you meant Kirkman?
Posted by Bryan on August 24th, 2010The only thing I’m worried about is the lack of gore since it is a tv show. The one guy getting shot in the beginning didn’t look so bad but all the zombies get shot off screen which is kind of worrying. It doesnt have to be ultra violent but just watching zombies fall down with no blood will kind of kill it for me.
Posted by Tomoo on August 24th, 2010Fixed
Posted by Sean on August 24th, 2010I was surprised I heard someone say “Shit” in the trailer. Maybe that indicates that there will be some violence. The comic also includes some sex, but I am guessing that will happen offscreen.
Posted by Bryan on August 24th, 2010I don’t think there will be any lack of gore or violence. This is AMC, the same people who brought us Breaking Bad and Mad Men… not network TV.
Posted by Sean on August 24th, 2010Sean is right. Breaking Bad (S1) has one of the goriest moments I’ve ever seen on television. Jaw-droppingly disgusting way not improperly dispose of a body.
Posted by Kurt on August 24th, 2010I’m surprised the responses to the trailer haven’t been more glowing. It is pretty epic for television and seems to balance the tones of drama and horror quite well with shades of camp.
@Gil Can’t imagine this being a nail in the coffin for zombie TV. The graphic novels have a really strong narrative arc and the show runners seem to be handling it well from what we can see. If it fails, I think it will be more due to too few of the general public not being interested in zombies than because of anything this show is doing wrong.
@Bryan The post was accidentally posted before I had a chance to copy edit it, but I appreciate you pointing out typos.
Posted by Icarus Arts on August 24th, 2010Looks great. And for those who think it might not be gory enough: George A.Romero and Robert Kirkman both belong to the Zombie fraction saying that a good Zombie story is never about the gore or the Monsters – the main focus should be on the survivors and how they deal with the situation. I agree. I hope the acting will be top notch.
Posted by Werner on August 24th, 2010Just gotta say….that looked fun. I’m so looking forward to this.
Posted by robin on August 24th, 2010This looks amazing. I simply can’t wait!
Posted by Kasper F. Nielsen on August 24th, 2010I find it rather humorous that people are worried about the gore. Little known fact, cable channels aren’t regulated by any actual legal standards when it comes to violence, sex, and foul language. The fact that Nickelodeon doesn’t air Slasher flicks is due solely to Viacom’s decision not to, not because of the FCC or something like that.
Posted by Ben on August 24th, 2010sweet! way looking forward to this
Posted by Jonny Ashley on August 24th, 2010Looks very good. started reading the comics recently. Into the 40’s and still loving it. My only wish would be that timothy olyphant (SP?) were playing Rick…. but I love Justified so as long as that show has a long run I’ll be happy on both fronts.
Posted by Narby on August 24th, 2010Sean, out of curiosity what comics do you read? I just got back into comics recently and have been looking for some recommendations.
Posted by Narby on August 24th, 2010I don’t know if I’m the best guy to ask. The only stuff I’ve really read recently is Scott Pilgrim Vol. 6, Demo, and Warren Ellis’ FreakAngels. Been meaning to check out Ed Brubaker’s Criminal and Incognito too.
Posted by Sean on August 24th, 2010If nothing else ‘Nemesis’ is an interesting concept if you can stand millar, I know some cant.
Posted by Narby on August 25th, 2010Super-pumped for this show. Nice trailer, but it looks like it’s only covering the 1st issue of the comic and only the pilot.
Posted by Primal on August 25th, 2010I’m so amped for this show! Looks sick!
Posted by Napalm on August 25th, 2010I’m definitely looking forward to zombies getting some of the spotlight that vampires have been hogging on television.
Posted by Alicia on August 25th, 2010I’ve been waiting for this show to come and save me from the drudgery of regular drama tv, something with some balls. You watch this thing is gonna be bigger than Andre the giants nuts.
Posted by Drewsifer on August 26th, 2010Hopefully this will be my Lost replacement ove Winter – it looks great.
Posted by Paul Andrews on August 26th, 2010Credit where it’s due though; the 28 Days Later opening was an homage to ‘The Day of the Triffids’ by John Wyndham. It’s a great way to begin an apocalyptic story. If the guy sacrifices himself at the end this could be Reed’s dream drama !
@Paul Andrews
I didn’t watch a whole lot of British television in the early 80’s at the age of two, and since Robert Kirkman is the same age and nationality as me (and not Danny Boyle), it is probably more likely that he was homaging 28 Days Later rather than Day of the Triffids–especially considering that 28 is closer to a zombie film than is Day of the Triffids.
I will agree with you, however, that I am hoping The Walking Dead lives up to being a replacement for Lost.
Posted by Icarus Arts on August 26th, 2010It’s doubtful that 28 Days Later was much of an influence considering they came out within months of one another.
And Sean, Criminal is awesome. Probably my most reread comics of the past ten years.
Posted by Wintle on August 26th, 2010@Wintle
Actually, they were closer to a year apart. 28 Days later was relased in the UK in the Fall of 2002 and was on the internet by Jan 2003. Walking Dead didn’t come out until the Fall of 2003.
Posted by IcarusArts on August 27th, 2010True, but it’s unlikely Kirkman saw it until its American release in the summer of 2003, if then.
Posted by Wintle on August 28th, 2010I will watch anything AMC puts out at this point.
Posted by Matt on August 29th, 2010The opening scene is a bit uninspired, and it looks inferior to the source material furthermore the dick is missing this cannot be a good sign.
Posted by Kyriacos on August 29th, 2010Leave a Reply