‘Fear The Walking Dead’ Showrunner Talks What to Expect and That Title

AMC’s next highly anticipated series, Fear The Walking Dead, is set to premiere sometime this summer, and we finally know a few more details about the not-a-spinoff series.

Dave Erickson will serve as showrunner on The Walking Dead‘s upcoming companion series and revealed some interesting details about the new show to TV Line, including what fans can expect as far as the storyline, how it’s going to be different than the original and what in the world is up with that title.

The Walking Dead fans are pumped about the companion series, but it seems like everyone’s been a little confused about what to expect. Thankfully Erikson offered some clarity about the overall story of FTWD. “We’re covering the period of time when Rick was in his coma, so we’re getting to see things go sideways in a way that he did not,” he stated. “… We’re telling our story through the filter of this highly dysfunctional blended family. It’s about the shark you don’t see. It’s the education of our characters as to what is going on and how the world is unraveling and what is happening to people.”

Although FTWD is technically a companion series to The Walking Dead, Erikson ensures fans that “it’ll differ in so many ways.” “[It’s about] the anxiety and anticipation, he continued. “We don’t go, for lack of a better term, full-zombie. There’s a bit more of a slow-burn to the story. We don’t get to a point where we’re actually in a full-blown apocalypse until much later in the show. [Fellow EP] Robert [Kirkman] wanted to really dwell on what it’s like to [commit] a violent act — especially in our world, because it’s so early, and our walkers are fresher and far more human. It’s [emotionally] difficult to kill them, even when somebody’s coming after you… In terms of emotional tension, when we put one of our characters through a moment where they have to commit some brutality to defend themselves or others, they’ll suffer for it.”

One thing about the show that fans didn’t immediately go crazy over was the title. It seemed too simple, too straightforward, but Erikson revealed there was a method to the madness. “It was important to maintain elements of the original title and have that connection. And we didn’t want to do The Walking Dead: Los Angeles. I think it’s a solid, straight-up title. I also think Fear will become the shorthand.”

To see what else Erickson had to say about the series, read the rest of the interview over at TV Line.

Are you excited about the premiere of Fear The Walking Dead?