With all the success that AMC has found with The Walking Dead from creator Robert Kirkman, it's no surprise that the cable network is eager to work with him on another series. AMC is developing a series adaptation of the Image Comics and Skybound title Thief of Thieves, a story which follows a master thief with a dual identity who, while struggling to quit the business, opts to steal only what has already been stolen. How did Kyle Killen (of Awake and Lone Star) not get in on this series?
Hit the jump for more.
Kirkman will work with The Walking Dead producer David Alpert and the series' former executive producer Chic Eglee (who has also worked on Dexter) to bring the comic to life. The comic was just released in February and the first two issues sold out upon their release with the third issue hitting stores today. Kirkman says, "Much like The Walking Dead brought horror to television in a unique and groundbreaking way, I feel Thief of Thieves can do the same thing for heist stories, showing the humanity of all the characters, including the criminals." If it's even close to the success of The Walking Dead, then AMC could be looking at yet another hit series, and we might just have to start giving them an Emmy by default.
Here's the synopsis for the first issue of Thief of Thieves:
Conrad Paulson lives a secret double life as master thief Redmond. There is nothing he can't steal, nothing he can't have... except for the life he left behind. Now, with a grown son he hardly knows, and an ex-wife he never stopped loving, Conrad must try to piece together what's left of his life, before the FBI finally catch up to him... but it appears they are the least of his worries. [Amazon]
Here's the full press release:
New York – April 16, 2012 – AMC announced today “Thief of Thieves,” a new project in development from “The Walking Dead” executive producer/writer Robert Kirkman and Chic Eglee ("The Shield," "Dexter") based upon the new comic Kirkman created under the same name. "The Walking Dead" executive producer David Alpert and Kirkman reunite with Eglee who will serve as showrunner. All three also serve as executive producers on the new skein. The comic book Thief of Thieves, a new crime caper published by Kirkman's Skybound imprint at Image Comics, debuted on February 8 and sold out the same day.
"Much like 'The Walking Dead' brought horror to television in a unique and groundbreaking way, I feel 'Thief of Thieves' can do the same thing for heist stories, showing the humanity of all the characters, including the criminals," explains Kirkman, who created "The Walking Dead" comic in 2003 and still writes each issue, among many other titles.
"AMC recognizes the limitless ideas generated by the comic industry," says Kirkman. "Their dedication to bringing 'The Walking Dead' to life as a TV show has been key to its success and I'm excited about the potential of 'Thief of Thieves' to reach similar levels of success." According to Kirkman, "Working with AMC has been a tremendously positive experience and I'm looking forward to continuing and strengthening our relationships there and I can't neglect to mention I've been dying to work with Chic again since we wrapped on ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 1."
Circle of Confusion partner Alpert adds, "It's incredibly exciting to put the band back together with Robert, Chic and AMC; it just feels great.”
Kirkman developed "Thief of Thieves" based upon his experience in the writer's room of "The Walking Dead" after observing how the ideas got more creative and thrilling when a group of talented writers were working together to make the show as interesting as possible. The first arc of the comic is being written by Nick Spencer and Shawn Martinbrough is the artist. Kirkman created the story and has a "head writer" in charge of each arc of "Thief of Thieves." The story focuses on master thief Conrad Paulson who, while attempting to reconcile with his estranged wife and son, vows to walk the straight and narrow, only to discover he's completely addicted to the thrill of stealing. Now he must feed his addiction by stealing only what has been stolen, as the “Thief of Thieves.”
The deal was brokered by CAA, Katz Golden Rosenman for Kirkman, Behr Abramson for Alpert/Circle of Confusion, Michael Gendler for Eglee and Marci Wiseman, head of business affairs for AMC with Roger Arar at Loeb and Loeb.