Frank Darabont Pulls Out Of Walking Dead
Show creator pulls out during production of series 2. UPDATE Mazarra confirmed as showrunner
In a surprising twist which seems to have come out of nowhere, Frank Darabont has pulled out of the show he created, The Walking Dead, reports Deadline.
The executive producer/director has reportedly cited the tiring pace of TV production as his motivation for leaving his creation, having been known for feature films prior to the successful 6 episode first series. The second series has swelled to 13 episodes, which would seem to be a factor in the showrunner's decision. This seems like a bizarre justification, since Darabont had revealed how much he loved the change of pace in switching to TV in previous interviews.
The second series of The Walking Dead is scheduled for a US release in October, and it is generally thought that Darabont could eventually return, perhaps in some reduced capacity. Whilst this is certainly not beyond the realms of possibility, the fact remains that at this time, the main creative force behind the critical and commercial success of the show has jumped ship. He had previously brought The Shield veteran Glen Mazarra on board as his right-hand man, and it has not been confirmed whether he will take over showrunning duties for the time being.
We hope that the show can come through this unscathed, and will update the story as we hear more.
UPDATE: Glen Mazarra has now been confirmed as the series' new showrunner, reports Entertainment Weekly
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