After rumors that a Walking Dead spin off series had been pitched to AMC, the network finally greenlit the new series. Deadline reported that this new Walking Dead series will focus on areas out of the world outside that of the main storyline, a way to see what is going on outside the realm of the characters fans have grown to love.

Dave Erickson (Marco Polo) will run the Walking Dead spin off with the main series’ producers, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert and Robert Kirkman, all coming aboard to oversee the show. Kirkman, of course, is the comic book writer who created The Walking Dead.

Since this Walking Dead spin off series will take place completely away from the original storyline, the stories will all be completely original whereas the original series is based on the actual comic book storylines, although it has taken on a life of its own.

Robert Kirkman said he is excited to create something new with the series, but argues that calling it a Walking Dead spin off is a little wrong since no characters from the original series will spin off into this one. He said this is more of a companion show that will exist in the same world but nothing that happens on the main show will have any relevance in the events on the new series.