AMC confirms The Walking Dead spin-off

The team behind smash hit cable series The Walking Dead are working on a spin-off to the zombie drama.

Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd and David Alpert are all on board the as-yet-untitled series. It will debut on US cable net AMC and its production division, AMC Studios, will make the show.

Plot details are scant, but it will be set in the same universe as The Walking Dead. The new series is expected to launch in 2015.

Kirkman created the comic book series upon which the TV show is based. “After 10 years of writing the comic book series and being so close to the debut of our fourth, and in my opinion, best season of the TV series, I couldn’t be more thrilled about getting the chance to create a new corner of The Walking Dead universe.”

Kirkman added: “The opportunity to make a show that isn’t tethered by the events of the comic book, and is truly a blank page, has set my creativity racing.”

AMC boss Charlie Collier said: “Building on the success of the most popular show on television for adults 18-49 is literally a no-brainer. We look forward to working with Robert, Gale and Dave again as we develop an entirely new story and cast of characters. It’s a big world and we can’t wait to give fans another unforgettable view of the zombie apocalypse.”

Meanwhile, AMC is preparing to launch season four of The Walking Dead. Season three broke ratings records for the cable net, regularly delivering ten million-plus viewers and ranking as the top show on cable and across all TV.

Season four debuts on Sunday, October 13.