In a December 2024 interview with Collider, Kirkman credited authentic “Strolling Lifeless” showrunner Frank Darabont with getting the sequence made in any respect. In keeping with Kirkman, Darabont had stumbled throughout the “Strolling Lifeless” comedian on the Home of Secrets and techniques (a comic book retailer in Burbank, California) and thought the serialized drama was an ideal story to convey to TV. He wasn’t the one one. As “Strolling Lifeless” producer Gale Ann Hurd recalled to Selection in 2016:
“What attracted me to [Robert Kirkman’s] comedian e book sequence is that it’s a story about characters on a journey into this new world, and continually making an attempt to determine not solely tips on how to survive however what’s essential to them.”
However as passionate as Darabont and co. had been, they nonetheless had hassle convincing TV networks. Darabont introduced the sequence to NBC as a result of he had a take care of the community on the time. Nonetheless, its issues with the fabric prolonged past the violence. One NBC govt thought the “Strolling Lifeless” comics must be tailored as a police procedural the place, apparently, Sheriff Rick Grimes and a accomplice would remedy zombie-related crimes each week. One other requested: “Do there must be zombies?”
Regardless of their reservations in regards to the violence, HBO was apparently extra . Kirkman claimed to Collider that there was a “bidding battle” between AMC and HBO for “The Strolling Lifeless” ultimately. (Everyone knows who received that.) Here is how Kirkman put it:
“AMC and HBO form of bought into a contest of, ‘We’ll give Robert this.’ ‘No, we’ll give Robert this.’ ‘No, we’ll give Robert this.’ ‘No, we’ll give Robert this,’ and we simply stored going, ‘Nicely, HBO gave us this,’ after which AMC would go, ‘All proper.’ After which to HBO, we would be like, ‘AMC gave us this,’ and HBO’d go, ‘All proper.'”
Nonetheless, HBO nonetheless impacted “The Strolling Lifeless” not directly. Darabont’s preliminary option to play Rick was not Andrew Lincoln, however Thomas Jane. (Darabont had labored with Jane on “The Mist.”) However Jane needed to go as a result of he’d already signed on because the lead in “Hung,” an HBO-produced comedy sequence a few middle-aged highschool instructor who turns into a intercourse employee. (It lasted three seasons.)
If HBO had received the “Strolling Lifeless” bidding battle, one massive distinction that involves my thoughts is the dialogue. HBO, ungoverned by FCC guidelines for public broadcasting, can let its characters swear up a storm with the seven soiled phrases. Which means Negan would’ve been capable of curse like he does within the comedian. AMC let “The Strolling Lifeless” get away with ultra-violence, however as a broadcast community, its fingers had been tied with the swearing.