By Derrik J. Lang, Entertainment Writer
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (AP) --The "Walking Dead" franchise is going on a bender.
The upcoming spinoff series, "Fear the Walking Dead," premiered during Comic-Con after a panel that introduced the cast of the new zombie apocalypse drama to 6,500 fans.
"It starts as a family drama, and we filter the apocalypse through that," executive producer Dave Erickson told the audience Friday in Hall H, the largest venue at the San Diego Convention Center.
"Fear the Walking Dead" is serving as a prequel to the hugely popular "Walking Dead" series and will be examining how the zombie apocalypse started in Los Angeles. The AMC companion show takes place during the weeks that "Walking Dead" protagonist Rick Grimes was in a coma outside Atlanta in that show's first episode.
The cast and crew of "Fear the Walking Dead" were on hand for the invite-only screening of the first episode at Reading Cinemas.
The initial installment centered on guidance counselor Madison (played by Kim Dickens) and her recently divorced partner Travis (Cliff Curtis) seeking help for her heroin-addicted son Nick (Frank Dillane), who recently woke up to discover that his girlfriend had apparently become undead.
"We, the audience, know something they don't know from watching 'The Walking Dead,'" AMC President Charlie Collier said before the screening. "We know the looming dangers ahead. These characters are going to have to figure it out."
The moody first installment focused far less on the flesh-eating action depicted in "The Walking Dead" and more on emotional tensions between family members, including Madison's savvy daughter Alicia Clark (Alycia Debnam-Carey), as they coped with Nick's addiction.
After the screening, the "Walking Dead" and "Fear the Walking Dead" casts mingled together at an after-party inside a re-creation of the condemned church where that first walker — the franchise's preferred term for zombies — is glimpsed.
"The Walking Dead," which originated as a graphic novel, has become a staple of Comic-Con, the four-day celebration of pop culture that continues through Sunday.
"Fear the Walking Dead" is set to debut Aug. 23.
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More