Moderator on King's board said that tomorrow's (10/28/11) Wall Street Journal will contain an interview with Stephen about 11/22/63 and that we can watch a video with Alexandra Alter about her interview at their web site.
The moderator on King's official board just reported that the official word is that the mass market publication date for The Wind Through the Keyhole is April 24, 2012.
After only two episodes on season 2 AMC announces that they have renewed The Walking Dead for a third season. Here is the press release:
New York – October 25, 2011 - AMC announced today the renewal of “The Walking Dead” for a third season. Season two continues to deliver the strongest telecasts for any drama in basic cable history against Adults 18-49 shattering a basic cable record set nearly 10 years ago for a single drama telecast (“The Dead Zone”). “The Walking Dead” is based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. Glen Mazzara serves as series’ showrunner. Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert and Frank Darabont are executive producers. Greg Nicotero is a co-executive producer.
"Today we are pleased to announce that the ‘dead’ shall live as we proudly renew ‘The Walking Dead’ for a third season on AMC and, globally, with our terrific partners at Fox International Channels," said Charlie Collier, AMC’s President. “We are thankful for everyone’s contribution in front of and behind the camera as we continue to make ‘The Walking Dead’ a unique television experience. And, we are so proud as it continues to set viewership records around the world.”
FOX International Channels rolled-out its global launch for “The Walking Dead” this weekend, with premieres on FIC’s cable networks in Europe, Asia, Latin American, Africa and the Middle East. The series’ international premieres delivered equally impressive results in all major international TV markets, and broke pay-TV ratings’ records across the world. Over 10 million viewers in 122 countries tuned in live to watch the second season premiere of this highly anticipated returning drama. And, FIC will once again be the international broadcasting partner for the series with Entertainment One continuing to distribute in non-FIC markets.
“Partnering with AMC on ‘The Walking Dead’ took some guts", said Sharon Tal Yguado, SVP of Scripted Programming at FIC. “But at the same time was the easiest programming decision we ever made. It's rare to come across a groundbreaking TV project that is also attached to some of the best talent in town. ‘The Walking Dead’ was treated as a global event since day one and not only changed the traditional TV model but also changed our viewers' TV experience. It is now officially a global addiction with millions of fans around the globe wanting more. We are delighted to give it to them.”
“The Walking Dead” secured a 2010 Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Series - Drama and won the 2011 Emmy Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup. The series 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 Walking Dead” received rave reviews from countless critics, both domestic and international, who heralded the series as “above all else, “The Walking Dead” hasn't lost the most important ingredient in its strangely successful recipe: it’s thrilling” (The Hollywood Reporter), “...with Dead’s riveting cast of characters, the personal dynamics are almost as potent as the gory thrills” (Us Weekly), “The Walking Dead is a feast. Dig in.” (The Guardian, UK), “It doesn’t even take three minutes to realize that this series is setting standards” (Der Tagesspiegel, Germany).
Looks like there is a board game version of The Walking Dead. Anyone who has tried it? In The Walking Dead Board game, only the strong survive. The weak turn into walkers, and then turn against their former friends! Fight your way through zombie-infested Atlanta with your fellow survivors. Grab some weapons to clear a path. Visit destinations like the department store, the police station, old folk's home, and the CDC. Find the tools you’ll need to live another day like weapons, allies, a car, or a swift mount. Take on the role of Rick, Andrea, or one of the other hapless survivors and scrounge for sweet weapons like a Shotgun or Crossbow. Keep your eyes open for new allies, but watch your back! When supplies start running low, it’s every man for himself. If you can make it back to camp with enough gear to defend yourself and those you still care for, you win!
Should you fall to the hungry horde of walkers, the game doesn't end. When a player dies and becomes a walker, they leave the world of the living behind and seek out the remaining survivors. Spring surprise attacks on the living, cause the walkers to frenzy, or contaminate the survivor’s supplies. Put the bite on your former friends and they’ll join you in your pursuit of the living. As a survivor, you'll work as a team with your remaining buddy to ensure the camp site stays protected. Share weapons and other resources. The fate of the human race is in your hands, either as a survivor or a walker. Test your surival skills and fight to live another day with The Walking Dead Board Game from Cryptozoic Entertainment.
Is The Dark Tower moving to HBO? Well, according to Brian Grazer it is. This is what he told MTV:
"We're going to do ['The Dark Tower'] with HBO," Grazer told us. "We'll do the TV with HBO, and we'll do the movie with… to be determined. We'll do it right."
If this is correct it's very good news. HBO is known for thir solid work and huge successes.
This book is a must for all fans of the series. It's like the bonus material on a DVD but in book form.
The Walking Dead Chronicles: The Official Companion Book is the only authorized, behind-the-scenes guide to Season One of the white-hot new AMC television series, The Walking Dead, which tells the story of a sheriff’s deputy leading a band of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by the undead.
Focusing on the making of the first season of the Golden Globe–nominated TV show, as well as the creation of the New York Times bestselling comic book on which the series is based, The Walking Dead Chronicles is lavishly illustrated with never-before-seen unit photography, storyboards, set designs, makeup and visual effects shots, and page-to-screen comparisons of the comic and TV show. Featuring new interviews with series creator Robert Kirkman and executive producer Frank Darabont, as well as the cast and crew, the book also includes sidebars that serve as a detailed episode guide, reproducing excerpts from early drafts and final scripts, and revealing new directions for the second season and beyond.
Kevin Quigley has written five books about King and they are now all available as eBooks from Cemetery Dance. In Ink In the Veins there's a writeup and interview with yours truly if you want to check that out. More info can be found here.
Looks like there won't be a King/Hill episode of The Walking Dead according to Bleeding Cool.
It’s exactly as you’d expect, I think, but Bleeding Cool have heard from a good source near the show that the moment Stephen King‘s plan to write an episode of The Walking Dead with his son Joe Hill was extinguished was the moment that Frank Darabont came unbound from the show.
Producer Brian Grazer Says $40-50 Million Cut From ‘Dark Tower’ Budget Means “It’s Gonna Get Made”
We spoke to Brian Grazer during the “Tower Heist” press rounds today, and while we could only score a few moments with the prolific producer, he did inform us that the budget has been shaved way back, possibly to the project’s benefit. “We found a way to cut out $45 million out of the budget without changing the scope and actually giving it a good ending,” Grazer said, suggesting a heavily re-worked approach. “In the $140 million draft, the ending wasn’t quite as satisfying. Now, we’ve got $45 million, $50 million out of the way and a really satisfying ending. It’s gonna get made.”
Deadline reports that it's going to be Ben Affleck that's adapting King's The Stand:
Warner Bros has chosen Ben Affleck to adapt and direct The Stand, Stephen King’s apocalyptic mammoth book. Affleck has become a cornerstone director for the studio, but this would be his greatest challenge yet. Even King has been reticent about the idea of making a feature of his book, which previously was turned into a miniseries. With The Town and Gone Baby Gone, Affleck has shown the grit necessary to handle such an unforgettable tale. It’s early days, but the studio loves Affleck, who’s now directing Argo.
We all know that Haven has been revewed for a third season and during the New York Comic Con some interesting facts where released. Watch out for some spoilers though.
- Re: The Troubled. Remember the Chameleon from Season 1, Episode 9? The writers say: "We're not done with that one." Might the shapeshifter reappear in the next season? Has one been around this entire time?
- Re: Dwight: The writers were blown away with Adam Copeland's performance, both in auditions and on the actual show. They're aware that Dwight is a fan favorite and they're eager to work with him again--but at the time of the panel, they'd heard about the season 3 renewal some 24 hours prior.
- Re: Nathan's tattoo! This is a potential spoiler, but Lucas Bryant explained that when Nathan got the tattoo we saw in the Season 2 finale... he felt it. I wasn't sure how seriously to take this (Lucas Bryant is a jokester par excellence) but Eric Balfour seemed to think it was legit, since he mentioned the info's spoiler potential and applied to it a verbal hashtag "Epic Fail."
- More shirtless Duke and/or Nathan! OK, this one's mostly a joke, but you're welcome to dream. Eric Balfour: "I actually get to help take his shirt off..."
- More Nathan in general. The writers say that Duke was their envelope to open in S2, and that Nathan's going to be the focus in season 3. Rejoice, pancake fans!
Zap2it had a chat with Romero where we told them he turned down working on an episode of The Walking Dead and hasn't even seen any of the episodes.
George Romero, who pretty much put movie zombies on the map, says he doesn't really get the hype about the super-trendy creatures. And, in fact, he's never watched one episode of AMC's "The Walking Dead," although he's hosting the network's "FearFest" which kicks off Sunday, Oct. 16, with the show's season 2 premiere.
"I haven't seen any of the episodes," Romero tells Zap2it.
And not only has he not watched the show, he tells us he turned down an offer to work on an episode.
"Frank [Darabont] and [Greg] Nicotero were calling me and asking me to do one of these," he says. "I don't have any desire to do one because it's not -- my zombies live in sort of my universe and they're political and they're different from whatever that is."
He continues: "I'm not trying to capitalize on a trend. When I want to write about something, I try to use zombies to do it because it's easier than trying to write a piece about citizen journalism. It's easier to put zombies in it and make fun of it."
Is he just sick of zombies in general?
"I'm not really a fan of the fact that they've become as popular as they've become because I used to think that I had them in my pocket somewhere," says Romero. "And now they're sort of all over the place and I'm not thrilled."
Judging from the success of The Walking Dead and the not so big success of Romero's last Zombie movie maybe it was a mistake to not work on The Walking Dead? What do you think? Comment on facebook.
Yesterday we could watch the premier of season 2 of The Walking Dead and I don't know about you but I really enjoyed it. And if you are excited to check out next weeks episode you can get a taste of it here:
And here is a clip from The New York Comic Con panel where the cast of the show talks about season 2.
A new signing has been announced. Here is what it says on StephenKing.com:
Stephen will be doing a book signing on December 14 starting at 7PM at Walmart Store #4436, 5455 Atlanta Hwy., Alpharetta, GA 30004.
Walmart will be distributing 400 guaranteed and 200 non-guaranteed wristbands beginning at 7:00 AM on Wednesday, December 14th. If there is time after the 400 guaranteed wristbands have gone through the line, the 200 non-guaranteed line will begin. Limit 1 signed book per person.
King and his son Joe Hill will collaborate on a new comic based on their story Road Rage.
IDW Publishing is proud to announce ROAD RAGE, a new partnership with best-selling authors Stephen King and Joe Hill, to produce a comic-book adaptation of their co-written adventure tale, Throttle. This monthly two-part series begins in February, and will be followed by two issues adapting the story that inspired Throttle, Richard Matheson’s classic tale of suspense, Duel, beginning in April.
Head over to StephenKing.com for a behind the scenes video from the shooting of Bag of Bones. There is also an official site up at A&E that you can find here.
Bag of Bones will air on A&E on December 11 and December 12.
When asked if King was going to write an episode of The Walking Dead or if it was just a rumor the moderator gave this answer:
Just a rumor.
Is this because Frank Darabont is no longer involved? Was it always a rumor? What happened to the collaboration between King and his son Joe Hill that was mentioned earlier? Your guess is as good as mine...
Here are some interesting articles about The Walking Dead season 2 that premiers this Sunday. I saw the first two episodes yesterday and let me tell you, if the rest of the season is as good as these two we're in for a treat.
This is not 100% King but I still wanted to make you aware of it. It's for a very good cause. There is a Fundraiser for Rocky Wood's (author of many books about King and his work) health care that includes a signed King book here (along with two of Rocky's books):
Today I got both the press kit for season 2 and the special edition DVD of season 1 of The Walking Dead in the mail and after having seen the two first episodes of season 2 I am sold. Season 2 will be just as good as season 1 was if they continue as they have started (review to come).
The special edition has, in addition to everything that’s on the regular edition, some extra bonus material but it also have the pilot in black and white (review of that is coming as well).
A second event in Dallas has been announced. King's official site reports that A Real Bookstore will host a King event on November 11. There will be a reading and audience Q&A.
Donald M. Grant sent out a newsletter just not and there where some interesting news about the limited edition of The Wind Throught the Keyhole
- We are currently scheduled to release the Limited Editions in February 2012. Our edition will have 6 full color plates and 11 Black & White illustrations by acclaimed artist Jae Lee. One of the Black & Whites is available for viewing at: https://secure.grantbooks.com/z-sk-dt-twttk.html
- Stephen King has agreed to sign only 800 copies of a Deluxe Edition. In keeping with our policies of supporting long time customers, owners of Deluxe Edition copies of THE LITTLE SISTERS OF ELURIA numbered 1-800 will have the first option to buy this Deluxe Edition.
We will initially have a “postcard lottery” for unclaimed copies (which we expect to be very few) eligible for those who have a Deluxe Edition of LSOE numbered higher than 800.
- There will be a 5,000 copy limited “Artist” Edition which will be signed by Jae Lee and will be issued in a slipcase. There will be no limitation for purchasing this edition.
- Scribner has announced their release of a trade hardcover edition of THE DARK TOWER: THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE on April 3, 2012.
We will be producing a slipcase for the Scribner Trade Edition which will match the three slipcases we produced for the first seven Dark Tower books.