AMC will preview season 3 of The Walking Dead this July during a marathon of the first two seasons via The Talking Dead TV series.
We just recently got a peek at the currently in production third season of The Walking Dead which won’t hit our televisions until October. However, it sounds like AMC is interested in keeping excitement high throughout the whole summer for the zombie drama series. The cable network has just announced that on July 7th and 8th, starting at 11:30am EST each day, that’s just one week before the series will make a splash at Comic-Con in San Diego, the first two seasons will run in their entirety for fans and new viewers to recap the whole series.Hit the jump for more.In addition to the two season marathon, the event will culminate in a special hour-long version of Talking Dead with Chris Hardwick on Sunday, July 8th, at 9/8c with a special glimpse into the third season including an entire scene from the opener and also new interviews with the cast and crew, not to mention the usual in studio guests to talk about the series. And if that’s not enough of a tease, in between each episode of the marathon Hardwick will be on the set of The Walking Dead to introduce each episode and talk to cast and crew briefly. Honestly, this is a great way to keep audiences interested, and also pump up the crowd before Comic-Con in the middle of July.Oh and one more thing. After that hour-long episode of Talking Dead, the pilot for The Walking Dead will be aired, but this time it will be in black and white, to pay tribute to Robert Kirkman’s original baclk and white comic that inspired this juggernaut of a series. There’s plenty more coming for fans of The Walking Dead when the staff of Collider heads to Comic-Con so stay tuned for all the juicy zombie details. For more details, read the full press release below:
New York - May 31, 2012 - AMC announced today “The Walking Dead†Season 3 Preview Weekend on Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8 beginning at 11:30am each day. Airing just one week before Comic-Con, the two-day programming event will feature a marathon of all 19 episodes from the series’ critically acclaimed first two seasons, culminating with a “Talking Dead†live primetime special on Sunday, July 8 at 9pm. The one-time-only airing of “Talking Dead,†hosted by Chris Hardwick (Nerdist), will be followed by the world television premiere of the black and white version of “The Walking Dead†pilot episode at 10pm. The special version of the series’ first episode was created specifically for fans of The Walking Dead, as it holds true to the original black and white comic book, written by Robert Kirkman.
Throughout “The Walking Dead†Marathon, Hardwick will introduce each episode from the set of season three in Atlanta, giving viewers a glimpse of the new sets. Along with several cast members and producers, he will set up the storyline from each episode, and discuss the classic moments and unique characters featured.  In addition, every episode with be wrapped with exclusive character and scene-specific content from the first two seasons, including behind-the-scenes footage and sit-down interviews with the cast.
In the hour-long “Talking Dead†event, shot live in Los Angeles, Hardwick will give fans a first look at “The Walking Dead†Season 3, including a scene from the new season, and brand new video interviews with the cast, a tour of the new set and a sneak peek at the props and wardrobes featured in Season 3. Hardwick will also sit down with in-studio guests including the show’s executive producers and other celebrity fans. Viewers will get information on the show’s presence at this year’s Comic-Con, including a look at the construction of “The Walking Dead†booth, updates on AMC’s “The Walking Dead†Social Game, and other show-related news and topics.
At one point during the live show, Hardwick will reveal a special code to viewers, which they can use to enter “The Walking Dead†Watch to Win Sweepstakes, athttp://www.amcdead.com/. The winner will receive a trip to Atlanta and a “stagger on†role as a zombie on the hit show.
The on-air event will be complemented by activities online at amctv.com, where fans can find more exclusive behind-the-scenes videos and participate in Fan Favorite polls, which cover such topics as Fan Favorite Weapon, Fan Favorite Walker, Fan Favorite Walker Kill and Fan Favorite Survivor. The Poll winners will be announced by Hardwick during the “Talking Dead†live event Sunday night.
“The Walking Dead†reigns as the most watched drama series on basic cable for Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54. The series has garnered an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Make-up and a Golden Globe® Award nomination for Best Television Series – Drama, among other accolades.  Critics have heralded the series as “the most suspenseful show on any network†(Boston Herald) and “the greatest thriller ever produced for television†(Entertainment Weekly).  The series tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home.
In addition to the two season marathon, the event will culminate in a special hour-long version of Talking Dead with Chris Hardwick on Sunday, July 8th, at 9/8c with a special glimpse into the third season including an entire scene from the opener and also new interviews with the cast and crew, not to mention the usual in studio guests to talk about the series. And if that’s not enough of a tease, in between each episode of the marathon Hardwick will be on the set of The Walking Dead to introduce each episode and talk to cast and crew briefly. Honestly, this is a great way to keep audiences interested, and also pump up the crowd before Comic-Con in the middle of July.Oh and one more thing. After that hour-long episode of Talking Dead, the pilot for The Walking Dead will be aired, but this time it will be in black and white, to pay tribute to Robert Kirkman’s original baclk and white comic that inspired this juggernaut of a series. There’s plenty more coming for fans of The Walking Dead when the staff of Collider heads to Comic-Con so stay tuned for all the juicy zombie details. For more details, read the full press release below:
