Frank Darabont, director of "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Green Mile", is adapting and directing a TV version of the definitive zombie comic "The Walking Dead".  The project is being executive produced by Darabont and Gale Anne Hurd for a berth on basic cable's AMC network.  More after the jump.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Darabont had originally developed "Walking Dead" for NBC several years ago.  The deal fell apart and after a "healthy bidding war" the project, based on Robert Kirkman's 63-issue zombie series from Image Comics, landed at AMC.

First published back in 2003, "The Walking Dead" chronicles the issues faced by a group of survivors of a zombie apocalypse.  Led by police officer Rick Grimes, the group struggles with interpersonal conflicts even as they face the omnipresent threat of further zombie attrocities.

As for why AMC, home to the Emmy-winning "Mad Men", would want to add a zombie show to their lineup, a senior VP for the network said "It allows us to stay where we want to stay: in the world of smart, sophisticated storytelling."

I haven't read "The Walking Dead" but I am a big fan of Darabont's films.  Based solely on his participation I believe that the words "smart, sophisticated storytelling" will indeed apply.