World War Z’ Sequel Draws Dennis Kelly for New Draft

British writer Dennis Kelly has been hired to write a new draft of the script for Paramount’s Brad Pitt sequel “World War Z 2.”

The project is scheduled for release on June 9, 2017. Pitt is producing with Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Ian Bryce.

Spanish director J.A. Bayona (“The Impossible”) is attached to direct. The previous draft had been written by Steven Knight.

Kelly created the U.K. conspiracy thriller series “Utopia” for Channel 4, along with BBC Three’s sitcom “Pulling.” He also co-wrote “Matilda the Musical” with comedian Tim Minchin.

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AMC renews The Walking Dead for a 7th season.

In something that shouldn't come as too much of a surprise (unlike Glenn's maybe death) AMC has renewed The Walking Dead for a 7th season. Here's the full press release about the announcement from AMC.

The October 25th episode of “The Walking Dead” delivered 18.2 million viewers, 12 million adults 18-49 and 11.5 million adults 25-54 in live+3 ratings, which include three days of time-shifted viewing – each growing compared to last season’s corresponding episode #503. Last Sunday’s “Talking Dead” was its highest-rated episode ever that was not a premiere or a finale, delivering 7.3 million viewers, 4.6 million adults 18-49 and 4.7 million adults 25-54 in live+3.

“Thank goodness someone had a Magic 8-Ball with them in our many long internal meetings about these renewals. When, on the third shake, ‘without a doubt’ filled the murky blue screen, we knew we had to proceed with new seasons of ‘The Walking Dead’ and ‘Talking Dead,’” said Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios. “All joking aside, we are so proud to share these shows with fans who have been so passionate, communicative and engaged. We are grateful for and continually impressed by the talent, effort and excellence on continuous display by Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple, Chris Hardwick and the many people with whom we partner to make these unique shows possible. The result: More Walking and Talking. Hooray.”

Key Nielsen Highlights for October 25th Episode #603 of “The Walking Dead” (Live+3)

18.2 million viewers, up 39% from live/same day (an increase of 5.1 million viewers)

12.0 million adults 18-49 (national rating of 9.5), up 42% from live/same day (an increase of 3.5 million adults 18-49)

11.5 million adults 25-54, up 41% from live/same day (an increase of 3.3 million adults 25-54)

Key Nielsen Highlights for October 25th Episode of “Talking Dead” (Live+3)

7.3 million viewers, up 18% from live/same day (an increase of 1.1 million viewers)

4.6 million adults 18-49 (national rating of 3.6), up 17% from live/same day (an increase of 673,000 adults 18-49)

4.7 million adults 25-54, up 18% from live/same day (an increase of 699,000 adults 25-54)

Following a free premiere event with 13,500 screaming fans at Madison Square Garden, “The Walking Dead” has kicked off its sixth season with impressive social activity, drawing nearly 20 million social engagements between premiere week and episode 3 and ranking as the #1 most engaging drama. Since last year's premiere, “The Walking Dead” has gained 5.5 million new fans across social media, now tracking with an audience of nearly 40 million. Instagram has surfaced as “The Walking Dead’s” fastest-growing social platform, with the show capturing more than 8% of the industry’s engagement so far this season, up 25% from last year. Meanwhile, the series’ audience size has more than tripled on Instagram, while total engagements have jumped 325% from this point last year, with 8 million total engagements for the season to date.

For season seven, Scott M. Gimple will return as the series’ showrunner and executive producer, along with executive producers Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert, Greg Nicotero and Tom Luse.

Around the world, season seven of “The Walking Dead” will again be “First on FOX,” with FOX International Channels (FIC) bringing the show to audiences globally in all of its 125+ markets as part of FIC's continued commitment to broadcast the series day-and-date internationally. Following the U.S. trend, “The Walking Dead” continues to break records overseas and has more than tripled its numbers on FOX since its launch.

Sources: Nielsen L+3 (10/25/15) and Rank on L+SD (9/21/15-10/25/15), Prime (8P-11P), excluding repeats, specials, sports, < 15 min, 2+ T/C. ListenFirst DAR TV.

'The Walking Dead' Season 6 to feature 90-minute episode centered on Morgan

Fans have been long anticipating a flashback episode centered on Morgan, explaining where the character has been over the past few seasons and how he developed his impressive bo-staff skills.

It now appears that episode will be 90 minutes long, according to actor Lennie James' recent interview with HeyUGuys.com.

"It's almost like a standalone film, and I believe it's going to be shown as a 90-minute special," James told the site. "It's going to be an intense ride. It's very much going to be in keeping with the mythology of 'The Walking Dead.' But is a very different kind of episode. Hopefully it's one that the fans will like."

Internet blogs have suggested that episode isn't far off and will, in fact, be episode 4 of Season 6, which airs next Sunday, Nov. 1. The episode is titled "Here's Not Here" with a vague synopsis: "A new face appears; trust issues form."

Based on the synopsis, some have speculated the episode will feature the introduction of Paul "Jesus" Monroe or Negan. But it's now clear the episode will be all about Morgan.

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Zombie book of the day. Beyond the Barriers: A Zombie Novel by Timothy W. Long

When the dead rise, Ex-Special Forces soldier Erik Tragger flees to the mountains to wait out the end of the world. Cut off from civilization for months, he returns to find cities ruined and ruled by the walking dead.

Tragger reluctantly joins a group of survivors with a plan: flee to Portland where humanity is carving out a stronghold. But along the way they face opposition at every turn—the dead, rogue military forces, looters... and a new enemy more dangerous than any they have yet encountered.

Among the stumbling, mindless zombies walk the ghouls. The ghouls are living dead creatures that not only strategize and plan, but also possess the ability to guide their shambling brothers.

With weapons and supplies dwindling, Erik and his companions will faceoff against millions of the dead who have but one goal: complete eradication of the last of the living.

BUY THE BOOK

1 Dead, 4 Hurt in Shooting at Florida 'ZombiCon'

One person died and four others were hurt after shooting broke out at a zombie-themed event in Florida Saturday, authorities said.

Zombie book of the week: Fractured: Outbreak ZOM-813 by Marie Lanza

Sirens…. Then it begins.

When the fabric of society is torn apart by a deadly viral outbreak, Harmony and Dan find themselves in a terrifying race to find their loved ones and stay one step ahead of the infected. They're quickly absorbed in a world that has collapsed and surrounded by a deadly pathogen that doesn't discriminate. The only question that remains -- did the outbreak already seal their doom?

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Sonequa Martin-Green (Sasha) previews 'The Walking Dead'

Bigger' is the best way to described the new season of 'The Walking Dead,' according to star Sonequa Martin-Green who plays 'Sasha Williams.' She previewed season six during Good Day New York. Watch more of that interview below:

The 'Walking Dead' Season Premiere Wants To Be Spectacular

The Walking Dead’s season-six premiere is set up to make you think it is an ambitious piece of TV filmmaking. It jumps back and forth in time, putting the past in black-and-white, the present in vibrant color. The episode, titled “First Time Again,” is constructed as a daring, somewhat complex plan to corral and contain a large number of walkers, led, of course, by Rick Grimes.

It looked for a little while last season that The Walking Dead had finally come up with a woman who could match Rick for tough leadership. She came in the person of Tovah Feldshuh as Deanna Monroe, leader of the Alexandrians. Feldshuh is a singularly commanding actor, and Deanna an unusually forceful figure in the Walking Dead TV-universe. But though this is open to interpretation, I think Sunday’s episode proves — very pointedly at the start of a new season — that no one gets the upper hand with Rick around.

Rick is the John Wayne of The Walking Dead, but he’s not the simple, heroic John Wayne of hundreds of Westerns — no, he’s a specific John Wayne: the John Wayne of The Searchers. The one who is tragically arrogant, blinded by his sense of his own personal loss to insist that his way is the only way, and anyone who disagrees with him should get out of the way or be crushed.

Read more (Warning: Some spoilers ahead.): The 'Walking Dead' Season Premiere Wants To Be Spectacular

TRAILER: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Check out this first trailer for the movie Pride and Prejudice and Zombies which is currently set to be released in February 2016.

Resident Evil 6: Behind the scenes

Check out this behind the scenes video of the upcoming zombie movie, Resident Evil 6. It seems to be a battle against a oncoming zombie horde.