THR is reporting that Frank Darabont’s upcoming TV adaptation of The Walking Dead has just cast its lead. Rick Grimes, the main character from the comic, will be played by Andrew Lincoln. For those not familiar with Lincoln (I wasn’t) he’s an English actor that’s appeared in a lot of tv shows across the pond- This Life, afterlife and Strike Back to name a few- as well as a role in Love Actually.
Comic creator Robert Kirkman thinks he’s a great choice. “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.”
Lincoln joins Jon Bernthal (The Pacific) who will be portraying the character of Shane, Rick’s partner on the force. In the comic Rick’s a small-town cop who ends up separated from his family during a zombie apocalypse, but quickly catches up with them to find out that his old buddy Shane’s been taking care of his wife and kid.
Shooting on the pilot starts this June in Atlanta. AMC has ordered up six shows already, so let’s hope it hits big.