The Walking Dead Exclusive: Gale Anne Hurd Interview

The Walking Dead is currently on its midseason break, which seemed like the perfect time to approach Walking Dead Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd with a couple of questions about the show. Besides producing The Walking Dead, Gale Anne Hurd has been involved in a number of other projects that are close to the hearts of comic book fans. We’ve actually broken our interview up into two parts. The first part below focuses on The Walking Dead, but be sure to check back tomorrow for part two, which focuses on some other comic book related projects.Comicbook.com: How did you wind up getting involved with bringing The Walking Dead to television? Were you a fan of the comic series?Gale Anne Hurd: Yes, I was a huge fan of the comic book. I checked out the availability of the rights and found they had been optioned at one point by my very close friend, Frank Darabont, and the creator, Robert Kirkman, still controlled them. We met up at Comic-Con in San Diego and discussed teaming up. The rights became fully available a few months later, and as a team, along with Dave Alpert, we approached AMC with a pitch. They said “Yes,” and a year later we were in production on the first season.Comicbook.com: With The Walking Dead racking up record ratings, do you think the other networks will start developing more comic book properties for television?Gale Anne Hurd:  I think there are already quite a few comic book series in development, and ARROW is on the air, so it’s likely a trend that will continue.Comicbook.com: Are there any comic book series out there that you’re currently following that you think should get their own TV series?Gale Anne Hurd: I love Robert Kirkman’s INVINCIBLE and could certainly see that on the air.Comicbook.com: Glen Mazarra has been quoted as saying that all the writers want to kill the baby, and he’s the only one keeping her alive. Where do you stand on baby Judith?Gale Anne Hurd:  I’d love to keep her alive – humanity must go on – but she certainly is the most vulnerable of the group!Comicbook.com: In season 3, we’ve really seen Carl evolve into a killing machine. In the midseason finale, he even volunteers to take care of a member of Tyreese’s group who was bitten. Do you think there is a risk of Carl becoming cold to the world like Michonne often appears to be?Gale Anne Hurd:  Carl is lucky to have such a terrific extended family to make sure he maintains his humanity. They have a moral center and an ethical code, and I’m sure they – and Rick – will make sure Carl doesn’t stray too far.Comicbook.com: There have been reports that The Walking Dead has yet to be renewed for season 4. Can you clarify if the show has been renewed for a fourth season or not yet?Gale Anne Hurd: Not yet.Comicbook.com: Who is your favorite character on The Walking Dead and why?Gale Anne Hurd: Michonne – who doesn’t love a kick-ass, katana-wielding woman warrior?Comicbook.com: Andrew Lincoln has been winning rave reviews for his acting this season. After the “Killer Within” episode, we at Comicbook.com even went on the record saying he deserved not only to be nominated but to win an Emmy Award for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. What do you think Andrew Lincoln’s chances are for an Emmy?Gale Anne Hurd: In my humble opinion, an Emmy or SAG nomination for Andy is long overdue. I think the visibility of the show is such that his fellow actors have likely seen it, and hopefully this year they’ll feel the way we do about Andy’s performances.