In a move that will be reminiscent to anyone who has followed AMC's treatment of Better Call Saul, another spin-off of a flagship program, the channel announced today that they have already ordered Fear the Walking Dead Season 2. This certainly shows confidence from AMC in the promising yet horrendously titled new spin-off of The Walking Dead, which is only a few short months away from its Season 6 bow. As for Fear the Walking Dead Season 1, AMC has set August 23rd as its premiere date, which is only a few short weeks away, having only debuted a full trailer for the series at Comic-Con earlier this month. The footage is attention-grabbing, to be sure, and there isn't anything that Kim Dickens doesn't make at least marginally better, but here's hoping that this signals the end of the spin-offs. If they premiere The Peggy Olson Chronicles anytime soon, I may have to lead a revolt.
In other AMC news, their martial-arts series, Into the Badlands, has been given an official air date of November 15th, at 10 p.m. the channel has confirmed The Making of the Mob Season 2, which will likely delve deeper into the criminal enterprises and outsized, violent personalities that defined organized crime for decades, with Season 2 taking a look at Chicago rather than New York; the series will run for eight episodes. That happens to be the same episode order for The West, a docudrama series that investigates the social atmosphere, outlaws, and lawmen of the Wild West, with Robert Redford on board as producer. Both of these series will premiere in 2016, but there's no confirmed debut date for either. Thankfully, the spin-off opportunities for these series are slim at best.
Here's AMC's official press release for Fear the Walking Dead Season 2:
AMC CONFIRMS 15-EPISODE ORDER FOR SECOND SEASON OF “FEAR THE WALKING DEAD”
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – July 31, 2015 – AMC announced today from the Television Critics Association (TCA) Press Tour a 15-episode order for the second season of “Fear the Walking Dead,” which will air in 2016. One of summer’s most anticipated new series, “Fear the Walking Dead” was greenlit back in March for two seasons. As previously announced, the series will debut in the U.S. Sunday, August 23rd at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT with an extended 90-minute episode. The premiere will also air on AMC Global channels around the world simultaneously and will then re-air in local time zones during primetime.* A special episode of “Talking Dead,” hosted by Chris Hardwick (Nerdist), will follow the season one finale on Sunday, October 4th at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (U.S. only).
Living in the same universe as “The Walking Dead,” “Fear the Walking Dead” is a gritty drama that explores the onset of the undead apocalypse through the lens of a fractured family. Set in a city where people come to escape, shield secrets, and bury their pasts, a mysterious outbreak threatens to disrupt what little stability high school guidance counselor Madison Clark (Kim Dickens) and English teacher Travis Manawa (Cliff Curtis) have managed to assemble. The everyday pressure of blending two families while dealing with resentful, escapist, and strung out children takes a back seat when society begins to break down. A forced evolution, a necessary survival of the fittest takes hold, and our dysfunctional family must either reinvent themselves or embrace their darker histories.
“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. The series stars Kim Dickens as Madison, Cliff Curtis as Travis, Frank Dillane as Nick, Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia, Elizabeth Rodriguez as Liza, Ruben Blades as Daniel, Mercedes Mason as Ofelia and Lorenzo James Henrie as Chris.
AMC Global launched in late 2014 and is available in over 125 countries throughout Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
*“Fear the Walking Dead” will launch in the UK shortly following the worldwide premiere. Timing will be announced soon.
