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Many Zombieland fans know that, before the idea was turned into a successful film, writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick conceived Zombieland as a TV show. At the time, that sounded kind of nuts but after the uber success of The Walking Dead (not to mention the hit status of Ruben Fleischer’s film) the show is finally going to take its original form.
Reese and Wernick just finished shooting the pilot for Zombieland the TV show and, above, you have the first look at the new cast: Little Rock (Izabela Vidovic), Tallahassee (Kirk Ward), Wichita (Maiara Walsh), and Columbus (Tyler Ross).
In other good news, Reese and Wernick told us this weekend how fans can assure that the show, which will debut on Amazon, stays alive.
We spoke to Reese and Wernick this weekend on the occasion of G.I. Joe Retaliation (more on that soon) and of course asked them about the show. Wernick explained they finished filming about three weeks ago in Atlanta and are currently cutting the show together. Fans should have a chance to see it very soon. Here’s Reese:
Amazon is doing something unprecedented They’re taking all their pilots and they’re airing them all simultaneously on the same day. They’re going to use the next month or so as a litmus test to decide which ones to move forward on and they’re gonna know exactly how many people stream each one. It really is a chance for the fans to come out and support Zombieland, check it out and if they like it, vote with their computer mouse.
That should happen very soon, so be on the look out for that.
Here’s the press release announcing that Amazon has officially greenlit the show. What do you think of the cast photo?
Amazon Studios, the original movie and series production arm of Amazon.com, today announced it will add cult classic Zombieland to the line-up of pilots already in production for Prime Instant Video. Zombieland, which is the seventh comedy pilot added to Amazon’s pilot line-up, will be made available (along with the other six comedy pilots and six children’s pilots) for free on Amazon Instant Video and LOVEFiLM UK. Customers are invited to view the pilots and then review them on the site; customer feedback will help determine which of the 13 pilots Amazon Studios will make into full-season productions, to air on Prime Instant Video.
“Zombieland is a fan favorite and we can’t wait to see where this story line goes in a serialized format,” said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios. “We’ve been announcing a lot of exciting exclusive content for Prime Instant Video, like Downton Abbey, Under the Dome, and Justified, and we think adding original shows to that lineup is going to make Prime even more enticing for customers.”
Zombieland is based on the hit Columbia Pictures movie of the same name, and finds four survivors outwitting zombies and searching for a place to call home. The Zombieland pilot comes from the feature film’s original creative team, writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (G.I. Joe: Retaliation, The Joe Schmo Show), and producer Gavin Polone (Gilmore Girls, Curb Your Enthusiasm). Eli Craig (Tucker and Dale vs. Evil) is directing the pilot.
The part of Tallahassee will be played by Kirk Ward (The Island), Maiara Walsh (Desperate Housewives, Switched at Birth,) is cast as Wichita, Tyler Ross (Milkshake) will play Columbus, and Izabela Vidovic has the role of Little Rock.
“Zombieland will strive to break the rules—action, adventure, thrills, chills and laughs and all packed into a half hour format, said creator Paul Wernick. “This is not your average show but Amazon is not your average network.”
