Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead and Invincible comic book series, announced a new development deal with Fox International Channels (FIC). With record breaking ratings for the season three midseason premiere of The Walking Dead ((12.3 million viewers to be exact), Fox International Channels wants Kirkman to bring exorcism to television. The international distributor of AMC, is partnering with Kirkman on a dramatic series based on his upcoming comic book series on exorcism. According to Deadline, the series, currently untitled, will be published by Kirkman’s Skybound (a sister company to Image Comics). The press release sent out today shares some details about the series:
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Los Angeles– 4 March 2013 – FOX International Channels (FIC), The Walking Dead Creator/Executive Producer Robert Kirkman, Kirkman’s Skybound imprint at Image Comics, and Circle of Confusion are developing a script based on Kirkman’s upcoming comic book series set in the world of exorcism. This partnership emerged from a long-standing and successful relationship between Kirkman and FIC during the ongoing run of AMC’s hit series, The Walking Dead, based on Kirkman’s Eisner Award-winning comic book series, on which FIC is international partner.
Told through the Kirkman prism, the series follows a young man, Kyle Barnes, who has been plagued by possession since he was a child. Now an adult, he embarks on a spiritual journey to find answers but what he uncovers could mean the end of life on Earth as we know it. Kirkman will serve as executive producer alongside The Walking Dead executive producer David Alpert of Circle of Confusion.
Kirkman states, “Sharon Tal Yguado and the entire team at FOX International Channels have been instrumental in making The Walking Dead the worldwide success that it has become. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to continue working with this forward-thinking and extremely talented group.”
“Exorcism has captivated movie audiences all over the world but has never been explored on television,” said Sharon Tal Yguado, EVP Global Scripted Programming and Original Development at FIC. “Robert Kirkman, who forever changed the scope of Cable TV with The Walking Dead, possesses an unparalleled talent of telling big concept stories in a smart and incredibly genuine way. We couldn’t be more excited to be working with him on this project, which we see as a reinvention of the genre.”
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You can be sure that we will be covering this series once it does premiere. In the meantime I recommend checking out my article, Essential Viewing for fans of The Last Exorcism. And while your at it, don’t forget to listen to our Walking Dead podcast.