We don’t usually cover TV news but just thought this was a nice linked one to let you all know about.
Following the huge success of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead on the small-screen, a TV adaptation of George A. Romero’s Empire of the Dead graphic novel series is now on the way.
Variety reports the news out of Cannes that the production-finance company Demarest are developing a TV version of Romero’s 15-issue graphic novel series, first published by Marvel in 2014. The company previously backed the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffman spy thriller A Most Wanted Man and Kevin Smith’s horror comedy Tusk, as well the upcoming John le Carre miniseries The Night Manager.
So what sets Empire of the Dead apart from The Walking Dead and the million other zombie properties? Well it throws vampires into the mix, for one thing, and the zombies themselves are portrayed in keeping with Romero’s famous Living Dead series. He will also write the small screen adaptation alongside Peter Grunwald, both also producing alongside Damarest’s Sam Englebardt and William D. Johnson.
Here’s the synopsis of Act One from Marvel:
ZOMBIE GODFATHER GEORGE ROMERO UNLEASHES HIS NEXT UNDEAD EPIC—AS AN ALL-NEW MARVEL COMIC! Welcome to New York City years after the undead plague has erupted—but just because Manhattan has been quarantined, don’t think that everyone inside is safe! Not only do flesh-eaters roam within Manhattan, but there’s another ancient predator about to take a bite out of the Big Apple! Plus: It’s a terrorizing team-up in variant cover form when the Zombie Godfather unites with the Zombie King.
It’s not hard to see why they would want to bring this idea to series. It will obviously piggyback off the monumental popularity of The Walking Dead but also pick up on the fascination people always seem to have with vampire mythology.