Since its premiere in 2010, AMC’s The Walking Dead has solidified the network’s reputation for producing prestige dramas that are also bankable, engendering an entire franchise referred to collectively as “The Walking Dead Universe.” In October of last year, AMC announced a new entry in the Walking Dead catalog: Tales of the Walking Dead, a series made up of standalone episodes that will each tell a story from The Walking Dead Universe.

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Today’s announcement expands the cast for Tales of the Walking Dead, adding Olivia Munn (X-Men: Apocalypse), Danny Ramirez (The Falcon and The Winter Soldier), Loan Chabanol (The Transporter Refueled), Embeth Davidtz (The Morning Show), and Jessie T. Usher (The Boys) to its roster. These actors will join previously-announced Tales of the Walking Dead cast members Anthony Edwards, Parker Posey, Terry Crews, Poppy Liu, and Jillian Bell. Reigning over the multi-series Walking Dead Universe is chief content officer Scott M. Gimple, the writer-turned-executive-producer most credited with The Walking Dead’s ascendance (his visionary work on seasons 2 through 4 elevated the show from cult status to must-watch TV).

Speaking as part of AMC’s announcement, Gimple praised the new additions, describing them as “massive talents.” Gimple added that the newcomers “will bring new worlds of TWD to life with big, daring, different, emotional, shocking, scary, and crazy stories.” Tales of the Walking Dead showrunner Channing Powell added that the “range of actors” would be capable of fulfilling the show’s vision to be a collection of “unique, little films.”

Tales of the Walking Dead is not the first series to embrace the anthology format. Last year, Marvel Studios’ animated anthology What If…? debuted to generally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. While The Walking Dead Universe is not quite as large as the multiverse of Marvel, its post-apocalyptic world has proven fruitful enough to engross viewers through three shows—no small feat, especially considering the large number of characters (and their frequent turnover rate). Few other ensemble dramas have matched The Walking Dead’s longevity, and with the final season about to premiere, Tales of the Walking Dead seems poised to capitalize on that.

Then again, characters drive the story of The Walking Dead, and audiences have continued to tune in for 11 seasons because they fell in love with the show’s characters. Tales of the Walking Dead has gathered some tremendous talent, but there is, so far, no reason to think that any member of that talent represents more than one small story—one small part of a world, one hour of investment before the audience meets new characters. Tales of the Walking Dead will have to do what its predecessor never quite managed: create a story that is more compelling than any individual characters. If the inhabitants of its world are any indication, the franchise is likely to survive…regardless of whether it succeeds or fails.

Tales of the Walking Dead will premiere in summer 2022 on AMC and AMC Plus.

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Source: AMC