The Walking Dead on FXUK

Interview: Gale Ann Hurd Reveals More About Season 3

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 05:32:00 -0400

The Walking Dead’s Executive Producer Gale Ann Hurd talks new locations, new characters and fresh challenges.

You guys are now shooting Episode 303. How are things on set?

They’ve been great…We shut down the town [we’re shooting in], and we had a couple hundred fans surrounding the town. And they stuck around not able to see anything, so I have to give them full credit for their persistence.

This season is the longest yet, at 16 episodes. What kind of challenges does a longer season present?

It’s really a marathon this year. The advantage is we have had some cooler weather in May and we’ll be going into cooler weather again in October. The challenge is maintaining the same intense level of storytelling that our audience expects of us, and we certainly plan to deliver on that.

There are so many new locations and characters this season, what are you most excited about?

I will say that I loved the farm, but it is good to be off the farm. And the contrast between our [two main sets] this season is so great…We’re setting up this first community that is functioning in a post-zombie apocalypse. We get to see not only the advantages of putting civilization back on its feet again but also the dark forces at work in what may seem like a Utopia.

A lot of this season is filmed on an air-conditioned soundstage. Are you relieved to be inside or do you miss the outdoor shoots?

We were shooting in the woods again a few days ago, which I’m sure will always be a component of our series. And we encountered the ticks and the chiggers and the wildlife again, so they reminded us of many of our travails last season. Plus we were hit by a deluge of a rainstorm and we had to evacuate that set… But the air-conditioned stages are very much enjoyed by cast and crew alike. [Laughs]

This is your third season of The Walking Dead. What’s the secret to keeping the show feeling fresh and scary?

It’s really important to focus on making the story as richly character-driven as possible because the scares and the sense of jeopardy only come with identifying with those characters when they’re in jeopardy.

There are many new human threats this season, which you’ve always warned about, but what about the zombies. What new tricks can we expect from them?

Obviously we have the absolute best makeup effects team on the planet, led by Greg Nicotero… And every year he ups his game. So we’re not just seeing the same old thing. This season, we’re going to have puppeted animatronic zombies and that’s something that we haven’t seen before.

Have the zombie extras improved their technique over three seasons?

[The zombies] get better and better. Now they’ve had three years of zombie college and they’re about to go to graduate school… Our Walkers all have a history that the performer brings to the table, which is, “Okay where was I bitten, what part of my body has been affected, and how long have I been in the zombie state?” And that determines whether one arm isn’t working or if they were bitten on the neck, maybe their head hangs over to one side.

Next month will be your third visit to Comic-Con to give fans a look at The Walking Dead. What can fans expect?

We like to bring a special reel for the fans at Comic-Con so they can see a special sneak peak of Season 3 before everyone else. It’s sort of a reward for waiting in line to getting it into the hall. And we’ll be bringing a larger contingent of our cast and crew than ever this year. And also because we began shooting a lot earlier this year, the reel will contain a lot more footage than it has in the past.

We’ve heard that you’re working on a pirate TV show. Any similarities between pirates and zombies?

The thing about pirates is they’re a little easier to kill, but at the same time they won’t stop at anything either. They’re all out, all the time, and they’re not easily dissuaded once they’ve got their eye on the prize.

But who would win a battle between the two?

I think it would depend on how many zombies there were and how quickly [the pirates] figure out that you have to destroy the brain or they’ll keep on coming.

The Walking Dead season 3 will premiere on FX UK in the Autumn.

Interview: AMC

Interview: Ernest Dickerson Talks Season 3

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:44:00 -0400

The director of The Walking Dead season 3 premiere, Ernest Dickerson, reveals more about the brand new season, including introducing Michonne in all her glory. Read his interview with AMCtv.com here:

What’s been the most exciting thing to direct in the Season 3 Premiere?

I’m really excited for the fans to see a growth in the characters that they know…And in this episode, we’re introducing Michonne in all of her glory. We get to meet her, and I know a lot of people have been looking forward to that.

This is the sixth episode that you’ve directed. What’s the Number 1 secret to creating an awesome episode of The Walking Dead?

It always starts with the script. It starts with the writers. I was fortunate in the first episode to have a really slam-bang script with a lot of action. Hopefully I make it cinematic. What I love about doing this show is each episode is like doing a mini-movie; it’s different than any other television show I’ve ever done.

You directed the memorable Season 2 Finale with the walker attack on the farm. What was that like to film?

I think a lot of people were looking at what we had to accomplish and thought it was impossible… It was really cold the last night, like 27 degrees. There’s nothing more pitiful than a shivering zombie, so we had them on the bus until the last possible second…When the barn was burning, I know they loved being down there.

You’ve gone from directing episodes on a stretch of highway and in the forest to now directing inside on a sound stage. Are you happy to be indoors?

It was slightly more pleasant because we could have air conditioning pumped in there, but it was a really dusty environment and real gritty. I had dust in my hair and I blew my nose and black soot came out. [Laughs] I thought it’d be easy, but no, not at all. There’s no such thing as easy in the world of The Walking Dead.

Glen Mazzara told us he wrote a particularly gross zombie gag for Ep. 301. How does this compare to the Woodchuck Zombie gutting from Season 2?

That’s hard for me to say because the entire time we were shooting the Woodchuck autopsy, what I called the zombie autopsy, I kept wondering if it was gross enough.

Robert Kirkman: "This season is going to blow people away"

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:57:00 -0400

The Walking Dead season 3 is officially in production! To mark this exciting occasion the show’s Executive Producer, Robert Kirkman, has revealed more about the brand new season.

After two seasons, you must feel like an old pro on set. What aspects of production still surprise you?

One thing that’s surprising me is how much I’ve fallen in love with Georgia. The town Senoia where we’re filming is absolutely beautiful…The big change this season is we’ve got this amazing prison that we’re filming in. It’s absolutely stunning, and I never get used to being on set.

What went into constructing the prison?

They’ve taken a lot of what you see in the comic book series and brought it to life in ways that I didn’t think possible. This is going to be one of the most impressive looking things that’s ever been put together for a show.

The room in the prison with all the guns and the SWAT gear in the comic is really cool. Is that going to come up on the show?

We’re a big fan of the SWAT gear here at The Walking Dead writer’s room… maybe that’s an indication that we’ll be seeing that stuff in the show. It’s important to us to maintain the tone of the show. Thus far [the characters] have been out on the road, desperate and living in the heat, and we don’t want it to be that they’re relaxing in this safe place now.

With the evil Governor in the picture, does that mean the humans are the bigger threat this season?

The plan was always to evolve naturally into a place where the zombies essentially become a manageable threat. You know the rules. You know how to deal with them. To a certain extent they become something to not really be scared of unless you mess up. Humans, however, do not follow any rules and will always do something that surprises you and are capable of doing things far worse than trying to eat you…We’re definitely going to be seeing a lot of horrible things.

What can you tell us about David Morrissey’s portrayal of the Governor? Have you seen him in costume yet?

I’m actually waiting desperately to see him dressed up in Governor mode and walking the streets of Woodbury. I think he’s going to be absolutely great playing against Andrew Lincoln.

Michonne was introduced in the Season 2 Finale. How are Danai Gurira’s sword skills shaping up?

There’s been quite a bit of sword training going on and [Danai] is doing an amazing job. She’s going to be do all of the hard character stuff and drama that The Walking Dead is known for, but she has tremendous physical capability and the sword training that I’ve seen is absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to see her hack up some zombies.

Can you tell us anything about the sword she’s using?

She’s using a sword that we specially designed for the show…The origins of the sword will be revealed on the show.

This season has got so many exciting story lines…

When you think about The Walking Dead comic series, you think about oh, the stuff they with did the Governor, the stuff they did with the prison and Woodbury and Michonne. And that’s really a lot of the stuff that people remember the story for and that’s stuff we haven’t even gotten to in the TV show yet. So as much as people love the show, and as high as the ratings are, and as cool as the show is, I feel like we haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet. This season is absolutely going to blow people away.

You’re developing another of your comics, Thief of Thieves, with AMC. What can you tell us about that project?

Thief of Thieves is a great heist story about a man named Conrad Paulson who leads a double life as a master thief known internationally as Redman…I am working with Chic Eglee, who is a fantastic writer who worked on the first season of The Walking Dead, and right now we are in the pilot development stage, so he’s going to be working hard on the pilot script and once that’s written we’ll go from there. But it’s really exciting to be working with AMC again.

This season will be 16 episodes instead of 13. Are you looking forward to the longest production time yet?

The actors and the crew and a lot of the producers would not be thrilled to hear me saying this, but I love doing 16 episodes a year. I think the more the better, and I think it’s a lot of fun. We are going to get to tell bigger stories, and tell more stories, and get into the characters a lot more. So the more the merrier.

Stay tuned for more details on The Walking Dead season 3.

Interview: AMC

The Walking Dead Season 2 Finale Recap

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:45:13 -0400

Relive the brilliance of The Walking Dead season two finale in this recap clip.

The show’s Executive Producers Gale Anne Hurd, Robert Kirkman, Glen Mazzara and David Alpert dissect the thrilling conclusion and tease what’s in store for the survivors next season.

Watch here:

Download The Walking Dead - Walkers' Kill Count' App

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:06:51 -0400

Walking Dead fans! If you haven’t already, make sure you download The Walking Dead ‘Walkers’ Kill Count’ app ahead of tonight’s season finale.

Play along live with The Walking Dead season 2 finale on FX, predict the number of ‘Walker’ kills and share your results via Facebook and Twitter.

You’ll also be treated to a whole host of Walking Dead content, including a live thrill meter, previous zombie kills, season 2 teasers and more.

Get downloading now…

The unmissable season 2 finale premieres tonight at 10pm, only on FX.

The Walking Dead Season 2 Finale Sneak-Peek Images

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 07:35:00 -0400

The Walking Dead season 2 comes to a gripping conclusion tonight at 10pm, only on FX.

In the unmissable season finale Rick and Carl return from the woods to find the farm in jeopardy.

Check out two sneak-peek images from tonight’s finale:

The Walking Dead Season 2 Finale Preview

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:36:00 -0400

The Walking Dead season 2 comes to a gripping conclusion this Friday at 10pm.

In the highly-anticipated season finale finale Rick and Carl return from the woods to find the farm in jeopardy. Watch a preview here:

The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 12 Recap

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:47:00 -0400

The Walking Dead’s Executive Producers Glen Mazzara, Robert Kirkman and Gale Ann Hurd look back on season 2 episode 12 “Better Angels” and tease what’s in store for the survivors in the season finale. Hear what they have to say here:

Don’t miss The Walking Dead season 2 finale on Friday 23rd March at 10pm.

The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 12 Preview

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:13:45 -0400

The Walking Dead season 2 continues on Friday at 10pm, only on FX.

In the penultimate episode, “Better Angels”, the group learns that someone dangerous may be on the loose near the farm.

Watch a preview here:

Don’t miss the final episode of The Walking Dead season 2 on Friday 23rd March at 10pm.

Andrew Lincoln Fan Q&A: Part 6

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:12:00 -0500

“There’s a lot more fighting, self-doubt and not many people make it out alive” - The Walking Dead’s leading man Andrew Lincoln reveals what we can expect from the remainder of season 2. Hear what else he had to say here:

The Walking Dead continues on Fridays at 10pm, only on FX.

The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 11 Preview

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:55:00 -0500

The thrilling second season of The Walking Dead continues tonight at 10pm on FX.

In tonight’s episode, “Judge, Jury, Executioner”, Rick joins forces with Shane on an important decision causing Dale to worry that the group is losing its humanity. Meanwhile, Carl’s actions have unintended consequences on the group.

Watch a preview here:

The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 10 Recap

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:27:35 -0500

The Walking Dead’s Executive Producers Glen Mazzara, Robert Kirkman recap season 2 episode 10 “18 Miles Out” and tease what’s next for the survivors. Hear what they have to say here:

The Walking Dead season 2 continues on Friday at 10pm. Don’t forget to download our ‘Walkers’ Kill Count’ app and play along live.

Andrew Lincoln Fan Q&A: Parts 4 & 5

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:06:00 -0500

Feast your eyes on the next two installments of Andrew Lincoln’s fan Q&A. He reveals what it’s like working with zombies, which ones freak him out and even rates his chances in a zombie outbreak.

The Walking Dead season 2 continues on Fridays at 10pm, exclusively on FX.

The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 10 Preview

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 06:34:00 -0500

Can’t wait for the next episode of The Walking Dead? Feast your eyes on this preview of tomorrow’s episode, “18 Miles Out”:

In this episode Rick and Shane come into conflict over the fate of an outsider and Andrea must help Hershel’s youngest daughter face a crucial decision.

The Walking Dead continues on Fridays at 10pm, exclusively on FX.

The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 9 Recap

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:55:00 -0500

The Walking Dead’s Executive Producers Glen Mazzara, Robert Kirkman, Gale Ann Hurd and David Alpert look back on season 2 episode 9 “Triggerfinger”. Hear what they have to say here:

You can catch a brand new episode on Friday at 10pm. Don’t forget to download our ‘Walkers’ Kill Count’ app and play along live.

Andrew Lincoln Fan Q&A: Part 2 and 3

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:19:11 -0500

Check out the next two installments of Andrew Lincoln’s fan Q&A. He reveals the difference between life on set in the UK and the US and how he perfected his brilliant American accent.

Don’t miss the thrilling second season of The Walking Dead on Fridays at 10pm, only on FX.

The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 9 Preview

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:11:00 -0500

The Walking Dead season 2 continues tonight at 10pm, only on FX.

In tonight’s thrilling episode, “Triggerfinger”, In tonight’s episode, “Triggerfinger”, Rick, Hershel and Glenn fight to survive against new foes. Expect plenty of zombies!

Watch a preview here:

Behind the Scenes: Zombie Guts

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:07:00 -0500

Go behind the scenes on the set of The Walking Dead with Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus and Executive Producer Greg Nicotero and see how the zombie guts are made to look so disgusting. Watch here (if you can stomach it!):

The Walking Dead season 2 continues on Fridays at 10pm, exclusively on FX.

Andrew Lincoln: I Have a Mad Life Where I Shoot Zombies for a Living

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:11:00 -0500

Living in Atlanta and slaughtering zombies has become a new way of life for The Walking Dead’s leading man Andrew Lincoln. He chats to the Metro about his “mad life”:

How does it feel to be back home after six months filming in Georgia?

It’s great to be home and to catch up with family and mates. But we got back at the end of November and I immediately contracted some sort of horrible consumption-like illness. I thought it was a zombie virus but it turned out to be a Dickensian disease that lasted all of Christmas and January.

You must need a rest after fending off all those zombies again. Are you getting the chance to put your feet up?

We have just moved house to a place in the countryside, so I am pretty busy planting trees and trying to keep chickens and ducks alive. It’s not going very well so far.

Was it a culture shock to film in the Deep South and get the accent right?

I have this mad sort of life now where I get on a plane, then I get off at the other end and I’m given a new phone – it’s called a cell phone – and I speak in a different dialect, and they give me different currency, and I shoot zombies for a living.

Did you take your wife and your two young children out to Georgia with you?

Yes. I really wouldn’t be able to do it without them being there with me. When we are there, we live in Atlanta, which is a really amazing city, and we have made some incredibly good friends there. I think that is one of the big advantages of being an actor – getting the chance to go to places you would never have gone to otherwise.

Have your children developed southern accents yet?

Yes, they have a bit but we try to slap it out of them. I’m kidding, we don’t. We thought our son’s first words were going to be in American but he’s very slow and lazy and hasn’t started talking yet. My daughter started saying ‘water’ and ‘daughter’ and ‘brother’ with an American accent; her Rs became really American. But since we’ve come back, she’s started at a new school that’s a bit like Hogwarts, and they all keep asking her why she’s talking so strangely.

I understand there were other challenges involved in filming down there, such as the wildlife?

Yes, Steve Yeun, who plays Glenn, got a tick on his dick and Jon Bernthal, who plays Shane, got eaten alive by chiggers [mites]. Seriously, he was eaten alive. Forget zombies. These evil, weevily things burrow into your skin and then eat you from the inside. No horror movie has ever created anything as evil as that. I don’t think they like British blood, though – I didn’t get bitten once. I think I must carry such terrible diseases that the American insects don’t want to eat me.

The Brits seem to be taking over US television; you’re in The Walking Dead, and now your This Life co-star Jack Davenport is in Smash. Do you compare notes?

Jack is a great friend of mine and has been an enormous help and support. There’s also Stephen Mangan, one of my closest and dearest friends, who is doing Episodes, and Shaun Parkes, who is in The River. It’s amazing that these are all really close friends of mine who all doing really well over there. We have this batphone going between us Brits in America. We all call each other up, asking: ‘Did they say that to you? Is this normal? Is this what they do?’ And one of us will say: ‘Yes, it’s normal. You have to work 20 hours a day. That’s what they do here.’

What sort of reception have you received in the US?

We have all been very fortunate that America has been so welcoming to us. I’m not sure we are the same in return in this country. Someone said a really wise thing to me about the cultural difference: in America, you start off in credit; in England, you start off in debit, and that is just so true.

For Halloween, did you raid the wardrobe department and dress up as one of the zombies?

I was gutted about Halloween because we were filming late. But you can now buy these really dodgy Rick Grimes all-in-one outfits in the shops, with a tiny little sheriff’s hat and a plastic gun. My wife, Gael, was insistent that I should put one on and go up and down our street in it. Next year, I’m going to make the whole cast wear them and we can all go trick-or-treating together.

What do you miss the most about England when you are away?

My cat and my surfboard. There aren’t very many waves in Atlanta.

Read the full interview in today’s Metro or online.

Andrew Lincoln Answers Your Questions!

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:06:00 -0500

Last week we put your questions to The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln, aka the main man himself Rick Grimes. Want to hear what he had to say? We’ll be releasing his answers every Friday before The Walking Dead airs on FX.

First up, he reveals the best thing about playing the lead role on The Walking Dead and the first thing he did when he found out he got the role as Rick.

Check out the first installment below:

Head over to our website for more on The Walking Dead.