It has been announced today by American cable network AMC that The Walking Dead’s companion series (which has now been confirmed to be a prequel) will debut this summer with a total run of six episodes.

However, they’re clearly confident in the show’s chances of success as it has received a pre-emptive second season renewal. That means it will return in 2016. Like The Walking Dead, there’s every chance that season two will consist of more than just six episodes depending on how well it does when it airs over the summer.

Plot details are still being kept a closely guarded secret (as is the title), but we do know that the series is a prequel that takes place in Los Angeles at the onset of the zombie outbreak. That obviously opens the door to actors from The Walking Dead showing up at some point, but the cast is made of completely new characters played by Cliff Curtis, Kim Dickens, Frank Dillane, and Alycia Debnam Carey, so maybe not.

Robert Kirkman co-wrote the pilot with Dave Erickson (Sons of Anarchy) and Adam Davidson is directing.

“We feel empowered by this two-season commitment, a serious show of faith from our network partner AMC,” The Walking Dead comic creator Robert Kirkman says about the news. “I personally take it as a sign that they believe, like we do, that we’ve accomplished our goal of developing something original that can pay tribute to the original show and expand the world I created while at the same time having something new to say with this story. I’m very grateful that we now have the opportunity to tell this amazing story and show the fans that we really haven’t scratched the surface yet when it comes to The Walking Dead.”

The Walking Dead Spinoff

Cliff Curtis Interview – The Walking Dead Spin-Off