New Kirkman Series Coming to AMC

by Josh Starnes, CMRO Editor

On the back of the success of “The Walking Dead,” AMC has begun to develop a series from Robert Kirkman’s “Thief of Thieves.”

According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, AMC and Kirkman are developing the project with “Walking Dead” producers David Alpert, along with writer Charles H. Eglee who worked on “The Walking Dead’s” first season and is also currently developing a pilot of Brian Michael Bendis’ “Powers” for FX. Though developing “Thief of Thieves” for AMC, if “Powers” is picked up Eglee would likely be tapped as showrunner for FX, leaving “Thief of Thieves” to search for a new showrunner of its own.

“Thief of Thieves” which debuted on comic stands in February, tells the story of a mysterious man named Redmond, a master thief, who is trying to leave his life of crime behind and start fresh.

“Much like the Walking Dead brought horror to television in a unique way … Thief of Thieves can do the same thing for heist stories,” Kirkman told The Hollywood Reporter.

Unlike “The Walking Dead” comic, Kirkman chose a television writer’s room style for working on the “Thief of Thieves” book, based on his experiences working the “Walking Dead” TV show, he said. Instead of writing the book himself, Kirkman oversees a group of writers who take turns on the book. The first story arc was written by Nick Spencer of “Morning Glories.”

A similar style has already been used to successful effect in the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” seasons 8 and 9 comics, overseen by showrunner and Avengers director Joss Whedon and written by a variety of comic and television talents. The first issue of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8” debuted at number one on the Diamond 100.

The season premier for “The Walking Dead’s” second season reached 9 million viewers, a record for the channel.