Producer Gale Anne Hurd’s (The Walking Dead) production company Valhalla Motion Pictures has just picked up a spec script called The Nameless. Written on spec by Chris Bullett, the western takes place in a top-secret facility run by the U.S. Marshal’s Federal Witness Protection Program. The facility houses witness who are awaiting new identities, and “when the area’s location is compromised, an idealistic marshal and the town’s inhabitants take a stand against a team of assassins determined to execute the key witness in an upcoming trial.” Here’s what Hurd had to say about the project:

“I love that it’s character driven. That is very important to me. And secondly, I’m attracted to material about ordinary people who are facing extraordinary circumstances who find the strength within them to fight against impossible odds.”

Heat Vision reports that Hurd will most likely seek independent financing for the project. No director or cast is currently attached, but that’s likely the next step. Heard is currently in pre-production on season two of AMC’s The Walking Dead.

At the 2011 TV Summit (an all day event hosted by Variety and The Academy of Television Arts and Science Foundation), television executives, creators, actors, producers and show runners came together to discuss the creative process and the financial capital and revenue models needed to sustain such shows. I arrived relatively late to the proceedings in time for the last panel of the day focusing on “The Creative Masters” of the television industry. The question of art vs. commerce loomed large over the proceedings. Every answer seemed to be tinted with the notion of whether art and business are mutually exclusive or can be one and the same. The room was filled with market researchers, representatives of conglomerates such as AOL and Comcast, and other business/market savvy tie-wearing individuals. Under such a setting, the answer to the posed art vs. commerce question unsurprisingly skewed in the latter’s direction. Hit the jump for my coverage of the panel, including interviews with producers/show runners Shawn Ryan (The Shield), Roberto Orci (Fringe, Transformers Prime), Anthony Zuiker (CSI) and Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead).

AMC has released a sizzle reel for their upcoming new series The Walking Dead.  While the premiere is still over a month away, it’s still one of the most-anticipated shows of the new fall TV season.  Being based on an acclaimed comic book series and having Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redepmtion) direct the pilot and produce alongside Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator) might have something to do with it.  Or it might be the awesome San Diego Comic-Con trailer that showed up online last month.  If you’re finding the wait to the show’s premiere to be unbearable, then this new sizzle reel isn’t going to help.

AMC will also be premiering the first full scenes from the show at the New York Comic-Con.  Hit the jump to check out the sizzle reel and the press release regarding the show’s panel and sneak peek of new footage at NYCC.  The Walking Dead premieres on October 31st at 10pm.

AMC has released some new images from their upcoming show The Walking Dead.  While the show doesn’t premiere until October, AMC has been doing a great job releasing new images and videos almost every week.

I got to check out the footage they premiered at this year’s Comic-Con and can tell you The Walking Dead looks like something really special and I couldn’t believe what they were able to pull off in the footage.  If you’re a zombie fan, this is a must see show.  The only negative thing I can say about The Walking Dead is the first season is only six episodes, which means they better get started on season two asap!  Hit the jump for all the images that have been released so far.

Warning: Zombies may appear helpless….but they are dead, and dangerous

AMC has released the first official production photo from The Walking Dead, which is currently filming in Atlanta.  Of the formation of these zombies, creator, director, and executive producer Frank Darabont says “Greg Nicotero is absolutely out-doing himself. The work he is doing is beyond what one could hope for. Our Zombies kick a**!”

Also, AMC has posted a video blog from the set that’s called “Zombie School.”  As you might guess from the title, the video is about teaching people how to be walk like a zombie.  Hit the jump for the full image and the video. The Walking Dead will premiere on AMC in October 2010 during Fearfest.

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.