AMC has announced that production has begun on The Walking Dead spinoff, Fear the Walking Dead. The show takes place in Los Angeles during the initial days of the outbreak. “We're going to show people all the insanity of civilization crumbling that Rick Grimes slept through,” says creator Robert Kirkman.  “Buckle up.”

At least that’s a moderately interesting distance from The Walking Dead, and they’re not just showing what’s going on with another small group struggling to survive in a rural area. Filming in underway in Vancouver, and I’m curious if the spinoff will stick to cities as a way to mark its distinct personality, or if, like The Walking Dead, it will eventually try to move away from urban landscapes.

Click here to watch the creators talk about the new series, and check out the press release below. Fear the Walking Dead premieres this summer, and stars Kim Dickens (Gone Girl) as a guidance counselor and Cliff Curtis (Sunshine) as a divorced teacher, with Frank Dillane (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) and Alycia Debnam Carey (Into the Storm) filling out the cast.

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Image via AMC

Here’s the press release:

AMC’S “FEAR THE WALKING DEAD”

BEGINS PRODUCTION IN VANCOUVER

 

Network Releases Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Video from the Set of the Pilot

 

Series Debuts Late Summer on AMC

NEW YORK – May 11, 2015 – AMC announced today the start of production on its highly anticipated new series, “Fear the Walking Dead,” in Vancouver. Additional filming will also take place in Los Angeles at a later date.

A companion series to “The Walking Dead,” the #1 show on television among adults 18-49, “Fear the Walking Dead” is executive produced by Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Greg Nicotero, David Alpert and showrunner David Erickson and produced by AMC Studios. Co-Executive Producer Adam Davidson, who directed the pilot, is also directing the second and third episodes. The series’ first season, consisting of six one-hour episodes, will premiere on AMC in late summer.

Also today, AMC.com released an exclusive new behind-the-scenes video from the filming of the pilot episode. The piece can be seen at: http://www.amc.com/shows/fear-the-walking-dead/video-extras/production-begins-on-fear-the-walking-dead

“‘Fear the Walking Dead’ takes us back to the earlier, more dangerous, more terrifying days of ‘The Walking Dead,’” said Kirkman.  “A time when danger was lurking around every corner and the thing mostly likely to get you killed was your own ignorance of the rapidly changing world around you.  The stakes are going to be higher and the ride more intense.  We're going to show people all the insanity of civilization crumbling that Rick Grimes slept through.  Buckle up."

“I could not be more thrilled to be continuing on this apocalyptic journey, dramatizing the horrific disintegration of society through the lens of a dysfunctional family. We've assembled a stellar cast and crew to tell our story -- it's going to be a great ride,” said Erickson.

“Fear the Walking Dead,” which is set in Los Angeles and focuses on new characters and storylines, stars Kim Dickens (Gone Girl, “Sons of Anarchy”) as Madison, Cliff Curtis (“Missing,” “Gang Related”) as Travis, Frank Dillane (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) as Nick and Alycia Debnam-Carey (Into the Storm) as Alicia. Also joining the cast as series regulars are Elizabeth Rodriguez (“Orange is the New Black”) as Liza and Mercedes Mason (Quarantine 2: Terminal) as Ofelia.