Co-Writer Announced for The Walking Dead Companion Series

Back in September, AMC announced that they were in the initial stages of developing a companion series to The Walking Dead. Since then, fans have been anxiously awaiting new details, but the series is in the very early stages of development. However, it hast just been announced that someone will join Robert Kirkman as the series co-writer and executive producer.

AMC shared the news that they have sealed and overall deal with Dave Erickson (Sons of Anarchy), who has been tapped to co-write, along with Robert Kirkman, and serve as an executive producer on The Walking Dead companion series. On top of being involved with Sons of Anarchy as a writer and co-executive producer, he also had the same roles on AMC's Low Winter Sun.

For those that missed our previous story, here's some previous information shared by Robert Kirkman that provides a few hints about what we can expect from the new series. Late last year, Robert Kirkman confirmed to IGN that it would take place in a different part of The Walking Dead world and talked about what he's trying to build:

"...It’s going to be set in this world, but it is a new cast and a new setting, and it’s going to be very different. It’s just exciting to be able to start over again and try to do cool stuff...

... it’s a really different location with completely different people, so we are going to see an entirely different corner of the Walking Dead world. It definitely won’t be set in Georgia, I can at least say that. It’s important to us that this show exists on its own. The spinoff has to be a show worthy of existing, or else we’ve all sold out. So that’s something we’re all working hard towards doing, and I think we can pull it off. I think that the ideal situation is, when you’re watching the spinoff, you’re like, “Wow, this is a really awesome show.” The whole other show doesn’t need to exist for this show to be cool and stand on its own."

One of the big items that fans have been speculating about is whether or not cast members from the current show would appear in the spinoff. At this time, Robert Kirkman wouldn't confirm or rule it out:

"...that’s something we can’t really get into. It’s a little too early to be discussing those kinds of things."

The only items that have been officially confirmed by AMC, beyond today's announcement, are that they are targeting a 2015 air date and that Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd and David Alpert are on board as executive producers, with AMC Studios set to produce.

Of course, we'll keep readers posted on major development and you can catch up on our coverage highlights by visiting the following links:

• Season Finale Poster
• Exclusive Interview: Chandler Riggs Part 1 | Part 2
• Exclusive Interviews: Norman Reedus | Vincent Martella | Scott Wilson
• Exclusive Interview: Andrew Lincoln | Gale Anne Hurd
• Cast Photos |  80 Behind-the-Scenes Photos
• New Webisodes | *Spinoff Series Announced*