The Walking Dead to be on TV? Awesome

First saw this retweeted from Robert Kirkman himself:

Variety is reporting AMC has ordered the pilot episode of THE WALKING DEAD... and they're right. Exciting times.

And now io9 has a post on it as well.

Frank Darabont, director of The Shawshank Redemption has been given the go-ahead from AMC to adapt the astounding zombie comicThe Walking Dead for television. Time to get excited, and prepare your anti-zombie shelter.

The Walking Dead is based on the comic series written by Robert Kirkman. It was previously announced thatAMC was in talks to bring the undead back to life. It's now being reported in the trades that AMC has stopped talking, and is ready to bring Darabont's pilot adaptation to undead life. Plus he's going to sign on to direct.

So not only is a cable network doing it (so it can weather lower ratings better than on a broadcast network as well as be as bloody and gritty as it needs to be), but they are getting the director behind The Shawshank Redemption to adapt and direct? Wow.

Here's hoping it's even half as good as the graphic novels. A series is the perfect format for this story, much better than trying to cram it into a movie. Guess I need to pick up Trade Paperbacks #9 and #10 now.

The Walking Dead on Wikipedia.