Variety is reporting today that AMC is venturing into a deal with Frank Darabont to adapt the amazing comic book the Walking Dead for television.

Robert Kirkman brings us the, often violent, tale of the survivors of a zombie apocalypse and their attempts at survival.  Published monthly by Image Comics this series is usually near the top of my list of favorite book of the month.  It’s over the top situations and violence is over-shadowed by Kirkman’s brilliant story telling.  What could easily devolve into the typical “on the run” type of zombie story is actually very much a story about human nature and character.  The characters are very fleshed out and the real focus of the series is their interaction with each other in a world gone mad.

“This is not about zombies popping out of closets,” Stillerman said. “This is a story about survival, and the dynamics of what happens when a group is forced to survive under these circumstances. The world (in ‘Walking Dead’) is portrayed in a smart, sophisticated way.”

I really hope this makes it to the small screen, though I’m not sure how Krikman’s violence will go over to the television audience.  While the character study is very suited to AMC, the violence is much more suited to HBO.  Though some of the best horror movies never show the actual act being done leaving the imagination to do what it does best, I can’t help but think that the series may feel watered down from it’s comic book source material.  A PG-13 version to the comic’s very much R (if not NC-17).  We will see.