In a December 2024 interview with Collider, Kirkman credited unique “Strolling Useless” showrunner Frank Darabont with getting the collection made in any respect. Based on Kirkman, Darabont had stumbled throughout the “Strolling Useless” comedian on the Home of Secrets and techniques (a comic book retailer in Burbank, California) and thought the serialized drama was an ideal story to carry to TV. He wasn’t the one one. As “Strolling Useless” producer Gale Ann Hurd recalled to Selection in 2016:
“What attracted me to [Robert Kirkman’s] comedian e-book collection is that it’s a story about characters on a journey into this new world, and continuously making an attempt to determine not solely learn how to survive however what’s essential to them.”
However as passionate as Darabont and co. have been, they nonetheless had hassle convincing TV networks. Darabont introduced the collection to NBC as a result of he had a cope with the community on the time. Nevertheless, its issues with the fabric prolonged past the violence. One NBC government thought the “Strolling Useless” comics needs to be tailored as a police procedural the place, apparently, Sheriff Rick Grimes and a associate would resolve zombie-related crimes each week. One other requested: “Do there should be zombies?”
Regardless of their reservations in regards to the violence, HBO was apparently extra . Kirkman claimed to Collider that there was a “bidding battle” between AMC and HBO for “The Strolling Useless” in the long run. (Everyone knows who gained that.) Here is how Kirkman put it:
“AMC and HBO sort of bought into a contest of, ‘We’ll give Robert this.’ ‘No, we’ll give Robert this.’ ‘No, we’ll give Robert this.’ ‘No, we’ll give Robert this,’ and we simply stored going, ‘Properly, HBO gave us this,’ after which AMC would go, ‘All proper.’ After which to HBO, we might be like, ‘AMC gave us this,’ and HBO’d go, ‘All proper.'”
Nevertheless, HBO nonetheless impacted “The Strolling Useless” not directly. Darabont’s preliminary option to play Rick was not Andrew Lincoln, however Thomas Jane. (Darabont had labored with Jane on “The Mist.”) However Jane needed to go as a result of he’d already signed on because the lead in “Hung,” an HBO-produced comedy collection a couple of middle-aged highschool instructor who turns into a intercourse employee. (It lasted three seasons.)
If HBO had gained the “Strolling Useless” bidding battle, one massive distinction that involves my thoughts is the dialogue. HBO, ungoverned by FCC guidelines for public broadcasting, can let its characters swear up a storm with the seven soiled phrases. Meaning Negan would’ve been in a position to curse like he does within the comedian. AMC let “The Strolling Useless” get away with ultra-violence, however as a broadcast community, its palms have been tied with the swearing.
