Andrew Lincoln to Star in The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead is ambling it's way to your television screen on AMC. A pretty big step has been taken with AMC's announcement that Rick Grimes has been cast. The man cast for the lead role is Andrew Lincoln.

Lincoln isn't really an actor that would be in typical comic book fan circles (unless those circles happen to overlap with the Love Actually circles). Lincoln will join Jon Bernthal (The Pacific) who is portraying Shane, Grimes' police partner before the apocalypse. The Lincoln signing must bode well when Robert Kirkman endorses him.

"Andrew Lincoln, wow -- what an amazing find this guy is. Writing Rick Grimes month after month in the comic series, I had no idea he was an actual living breathing human being and yet here he is. I couldn't be more thrilled with how this show is coming together," said Kirkman.

Filming begins in June and I'm pretty stoked.

Full press release after the jump.

Andrew Lincoln to Star in The Walking Dead
April 6, 2010

On the heels of AMC announcing it has greenlit The Walking Dead for six episodes, for Season One, AMC announced today it has signed Andrew Lincoln (Teachers, Enduring Love, Strike Back) to portray the lead role of Rick Grimes, a small-town police officer who leads a group of survivors of a zombie apocalypse. As previously announced, actor Jon Bernthal (The Pacific, The Ghost Writer) will portray the character Shane, a survivor who was Rick's police partner before the zombie disaster. Today's announcement also includes the addition of Jack LoGiudice (Sons of Anarchy, Resurrection Blvd) as Co-Executive Producer. Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics, AMC's The Walking Dead is scheduled to premiere this October during AMC Fearfest, the network's annual blockbuster marathon of thriller and horror films. AMC Fearfest (formerly known as MonsterFest) is celebrating its 14th year by airing 14 consecutive days of themed programming with more than 50 films.

The Walking Dead begins production in June in Atlanta. Kirkman serves as an executive producer on the project and three-time Academy Award-nominee Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) serves as writer, director and executive producer. Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator, Aliens, Armageddon, The Incredible Hulk), chairman of Valhalla Motion Pictures, serves as Executive Producer. David Alpert from Circle of Confusion serves as Executive Producer. Charles "Chic" Eglee (Dexter, The Shield, Dark Angel) serves as Executive Producer.

"Andrew is an incredibly gifted actor. He has the presence and attitude to bring this character and story to life. We are thrilled that he is joining the cast," said Joel Stillerman, SVP of original programming, production and digital content.

"Andrew Lincoln, wow -- what an amazing find this guy is. Writing Rick Grimes month after month in the comic series, I had no idea he was an actual living breathing human being and yet here he is. I couldn't be more thrilled with how this show is coming together," said Kirkman.

The Walking Dead tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home. The comic goes on to explore the challenges of life in a world overrun by zombies who take a toll on the survivors, and sometimes the interpersonal conflicts present a greater danger to their continuing survival than the zombies that roam the country. Over time, the characters are changed by the constant exposure to death and some grow willing to do anything to survive.

AMC's Joel Stillerman, senior vice president of original programming, production and digital content, Susie Fitzgerald, senior vice president scripted development and current programming, and Vlad Wolynetz, vice president of production, series and movies, oversee the development and production of the new drama.

Today's announcement marks the fourth original series greenlight for AMC. The first three were Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and Rubicon. AMC is the only network, in television history, to win three consecutive Golden Globe awards for best dramatic series for Mad Men (2008, 2009, 2010). The first two seasons of Breaking Bad awarded the outstanding lead actor Emmy award to Bryan Cranston for his portrayal of lead character Walt White. Rubicon, a conspiracy thriller starring James Badge Dale (HBO's The Pacific), premieres this summer.