Robert Kirkman Reveals His Original Idea (Now Scrapped) For How The Zombie Apocalypse Started In THE WALKING DEAD

Image Comics nearly passed on The Walking Dead until series creator Robert Kirkman added aliens to the plot.

By MarkJulian - Feb 27, 2012 11:02 AM EST

Filed Under: The Walking Dead

Speaking at the Image Expo, Robert Kirkman revealed a bevy of interesting tidbits about numerous topics but here's a line that grabbed my attention right away. Here's what Kirkman stated about his genre-redefining series and Tv Show, The Walking Dead (courtesy of BleedingCool.com):

"Kirkman told the story of how Image nearly passed on the Walking Dead as they felt that the story needed more of a hook to grab readers than just being set in a zombie apocalypse, which lead Kirkman to concoct a “Plan 9 From Outer Space”-esque tale of how the zombies were actually animated by an alien race that was preparing to invade Earth by disrupting its infrastructure. That was enough to get Image to sign off on it, though Kirkman had no intention of actually using that plot."

I imagine the people at Image are just fine with the fact that Kirkman essentially tricked them. From the description above it sounds like The Walking Dead mixed with TNT's Falling Skies, which could be a good or bad thing, depending on your individual tastes.

The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic horror television series developed for television by Frank Darabont. It is based on the comic book series, The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard.

The series stars Andrew Lincoln as Sheriff's Deputy Rick Grimes who wakes up after being in a coma to find the world dominated by "walkers", resembling the zombies of George A. Romero's horror movies. He sets out to find his family and other survivors along the way.

The series premiered on October 31, 2010, and is broadcast on the cable television channel AMC in the United States. The first season premiered to wide acclaim and was nominated for several awards, including the Best Television Series Drama at the 68th Golden Globe Awards. Based on its reception, AMC renewed the series for a second season of 13 episodes which premiered on October 16, 2011. Two episodes into the second season, AMC announced that the show would return for a third season.

The first season of The Walking Dead was well received by critics, with a rating of 82 out of a 100 on Metacritic. The season one premiere was watched by over 5.3 million people. The season two premiere was watched by more than 7 million viewers. The Walking Dead also received many nominations, including a Writers Guild of America Award and a Golden Globe Award for a Best Television Series Drama.

Running Time: 60 minutes (45 min actual air time)
Release Date: February 12 (Season 2-midseason premiere)
TV Rating: TV-MA for sex & nudity, violence & gore, profanity, alchohol/drugs/smoking and frightening/intense scenes
Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal,Sarah Wayne Callies,Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, Norman Reedus
Creators: Frank Darabont (show) Robert Kirkman (comic)
Written by: Frank Darabont, Charles H. Eglee, Jack LoGiudice, Robert Kirkman, Glen Mazzara, Adam Fierro, Charlie Adlard, Tony Moore, Evan T. Reilly

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21 Comments

StrangerX - 2/27/2012, 11:33 AM

That would have been really weird

tjbpinkfloyd - 2/27/2012, 11:36 AM

They included a fake issue which used this plot as a back-up. It was ridiculous and hilarious

FightAs0ne - 2/27/2012, 11:40 AM

When I read that I thought of Mass Effect for some reason...

valeriesghost - 2/27/2012, 11:41 AM

Aliens are to blame for everything from taken our jobs to the zombie Apocalypse. Aliens cant catch a break.

LucasMend - 2/27/2012, 11:45 AM

Nah

Rodimus9 - 2/27/2012, 11:48 AM

Two of my favorite things in one? Aliens and zombies....or aliens vs zombies? OMG that would rule. Or Alien vs Predator vs Zombies!

StrangerX - 2/27/2012, 11:49 AM

I just don't think Rick would have been able to handle it. I mean he wakes up and finds out the dead are walking, then he finds out his wife slept with his best friend, and then he would eventually find out aliens are behind it all. I think my head would have exploded after all that.

Dedpool - 2/27/2012, 12:12 PM

It would've been weird but hey it woudlve been original.

GreendaleHumanBeing - 2/27/2012, 12:16 PM

HavocPrime - 2/27/2012, 12:16 PM

Wow even M Night Shamalauanmam wouldnt of thought of that.

OdinsBeard - 2/27/2012, 12:22 PM

sounds good to mena. but i have very perticular tastes. the world that the walking dead exist in doesn't seem to fit in with Alien hored invading earth.

AsianVersionOfET - 2/27/2012, 12:22 PM

That would've been retarded!

MarkJulian - 2/27/2012, 12:27 PM

@Just1Supergy No I didn't.

MarkJulian - 2/27/2012, 12:28 PM

scraped-Drag or pull a hard or sharp implement across (a surface or object) so as to remove dirt or other matter.

scrapped-Discard or remove from service (a retired, old, or inoperative vehicle, vessel, or machine), esp. so as to convert it to scrap meta

SteveBosell - 2/27/2012, 12:58 PM

I kind of like not knowing how it started in the TV show. Mystery is good. Now, I just wish the show would pick up the pace.

Rodimus9 - 2/27/2012, 1:59 PM

Im blaming the people ^^^^^^^ who can't spell for shit. Retards.

CaptainRon - 2/27/2012, 2:23 PM

I agree with the illegal aliens, swab!

vaderthefett - 2/27/2012, 4:34 PM

anyone else read that issue where Rick gets knocked out by Michonne and he dreams the alien invasion and he has a robot hand and all that!?

CoolantTech - 2/28/2012, 12:30 AM

I dont know, that could work with the right direction but its too late, they should've been throwing hints and ever so slightly suggesting aliens, but without actually saying aliens from the start, so that would just seem weird right now if they threw aliens in... but it not impossible, who's to say you cant have Zombies & Aliens in the same mythology, sounds pretty original.

EarOne - 4/8/2013, 1:16 AM

hmm..i just read brad pitt article about his world war z flick, on entertainment weekly..now, there, with the zombies behaving like super ants..THAT could be explained as aliens having something to do with it, cuz..the logic just ain't workin' there.

now for making the zombies SMARTER..N O. no. at least not now.

Robert Kirkman Reveals His Original Idea (Now Scrapped) For How The Zombie Apocalypse Started In THE WALKING DEAD

Image Comics nearly passed on The Walking Dead until series creator Robert Kirkman added aliens to the plot.

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