The Walking Dead Gives It’s Writer’s The Boot

Whilst everyone’s been impressed with Frank Darabont‘s take on the realm of the undead,  it seems that he’s been unhappy with having a full time writing staff.  Deadline is reporting that the writer and director of the hit show The Walking Dead, has given the writing staff the boot including head writer Charles “Chic” Eglee, in favor of freelance writers next season.

The AMC series which won a second season pick-up after the pilot blitzed the ratings,  has revived the Zombie genre with it’s realistic depiction of a society overrun by a plague of flesh eaters. Whist its the norm for shows to go through different writers between seasons, the letting go of the entire ranks is somewhat unusual.

Robert Kirkman and Frank Darabont with Zombies

Darabont successfully adapted the series after spotting the comic by chance and practically developed the entire concept himself  – writing the pilot and subsequent episode as well as co-writing the rest.

Based on Robert Kirkman’s graphic novel, most of the stories are already ‘fleshed out’ by the comic’s writer who also wrote an episode and is on-board as an executive producer to extend the stories with the director. The new season which has been given a 13 episode order is not expected to return until next October so the long break between the seasons will give the duo the necessary time to hatch the stories.

Sources say that the producers are keeping their options open and will likely use a combination of a writing staff / freelancers. Though the cable series is considerably expensive to produce and its possible the move is a cost cutting measure.

Catch the season finale this Sunday on AMC.

via: Deadline