THE WALKING DEAD’s Robert Kirkman Developing New Exorcism-Based Series

Looks like the smashing success of AMC’s The Walking Dead has landed original comic book writer and executive producer Robert Kirkman a new development deal with Fox International Channels (FIC).  With a huge ratings boom of 12.3 million viewers for its midseason return in February, The Walking Dead is enjoying a very successful third season, and has a season four renewal.  Despite shake-ups with current showrunner Glen Mazzara leaving at the end of this season, FIC wants more from Kirkman.

A press release sent out today shares some details about the series, saying that Kirkman is going to explore bringing the world of exorcism to television.  With the success of exorcism based movies such as The Exorcism of Emily Rose and The Last Exorcism, Kirkman could really find an untapped market by creating a television series with exorcism at its center.  If it still has that visceral and raw nature that The Walking Dead has, then it may be another hit.  Hit the jump for the press release, including a bolded synopsis of the premise.

Check out the full press release below:

Los Angeles– 4 March 2013 – FOX International Channels (FIC),The Walking Dead Creator/Executive Producer Robert Kirkman, Kirkman’s Skybound imprint at Image Comics, and Circle of Confusion are developing a script based on Kirkman’s upcoming comic book series set in the world of exorcism. This partnership emerged from a long-standing and successful relationship between Kirkman and FIC during the ongoing run of AMC’s hit series, The Walking Dead, based on Kirkman’s Eisner Award-winning comic book series, on which FIC is international partner.

Told through the Kirkman prism, the series follows a young man, Kyle Barnes, who has been plagued by possession since he was a child. Now an adult, he embarks on a spiritual journey to find answers but what he uncovers could mean the end of life on Earth as we know it. Kirkman will serve as executive producer alongside The Walking Dead executive producer David Alpert of Circle of Confusion.

Kirkman states, “Sharon Tal Yguado and the entire team at FOX International Channels have been instrumental in making The Walking Dead the worldwide success that it has become. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to continue working with this forward-thinking and extremely talented group.”

“Exorcism has captivated movie audiences all over the world but has never been explored on television,” said Sharon Tal Yguado, EVP Global Scripted Programming and Original Development at FIC. “Robert Kirkman, who forever changed the scope of Cable TV with The Walking Dead, possesses an unparalleled talent of telling big concept stories in a smart and incredibly genuine way. We couldn’t be more excited to be working with him on this project, which we see as a reinvention of the genre.”

Watch The Walking Dead on Sundays at 9PM on AMC.