‘Fear The Walking Dead’ Has A Secret Weapon, Plus Producers Break Down The Premiere

Although it might be considered a spin-off by some, Fear the Walking Dead is a completely different series than its parent show, The Walking Dead. Although the two zombie shows reside in the same world, they don’t share any characters, at least for now. Even more, Fear the Walking Dead has something else going for it that makes it even more unique.

That secret weapon, according to Forbes, is based on the fact that Fear the Walking Dead has no source material to guide its path. Unlike The Walking Dead, the show’s creators have complete freedom to move the show in any direction they desire, all without the audience knowing what to expect next.

In regards to branching out into new and unexplored territory, producer Gale Anne Hurd recently discussed this aspect of Fear the Walking Dead with Forbes.

“The first question is ‘Why at all?’ It’s about the story we can tell. The Walking Dead remains in the universe that Robert Kirkman created. We introduced some characters, but we’re very much true to the comic book… A couple years [into the run of The Walking Dead] Robert Kirkman said ‘I’d love to explore a different part of the country, where I don’t have a blueprint to follow, where it’s completely free of the fans’ expectations.’ “

However, all that extra liberty doesn’t come without a price.

“Having the freedom, but no template, meant you had to get it right from the very beginning… Our showrunner, Dave Erickson, coming from Sons of Anarchy, understands a tone that we’re looking for. Grounded, but it’s a violent world.”

Along with having the freedom to take the story to unexpected places, Hurd also talked about how the setting for Fear the Walking Dead was another aspect of the show that was unique.

“We realized the perfect starting point is just before the beginning of the outbreak. We also wanted an urban setting… We wanted a city of immigrants, which Los Angeles is. People starting over, reinventing themselves. Rather than the grassy suburbs, it’s in a part of town, El Sereno, which is one of the oldest communities in the city.”

At the same time, the show also introduced a completely new group of people, all of whom are different than the characters on The Walking Dead.

“That isn’t the life of most people in Los Angeles. We wanted normal, ordinary people. They don’t have special skill sets. There isn’t a cop or a law enforcement person among them. And to see how they deal with the world when it changes.”

Episode 2 of Fear the Walking Dead airs Sunday on AMC.

[Image Courtesy: AMC]