Considering the subject matter of their show, it's not surprising that the writers for The Walking Dead have found ways to survive the coronavirus pandemic. For the unaware, The Walking Dead focuses on groups of human survivors in the years following the start of the zombie apocalypse. As the start of that apocalypse was a viral outbreak, some have drawn comparisons to The Walking Dead and the current situation around the world, though it's safe to say that the coronavirus does not create zombies.
The worldwide outbreak of coronavirus has led to drastic changes in most ways of life, with schools closing all over and offices having their employees work remotely. When it comes to the entertainment industry, the effects of the outbreak are palpable. Movies such as Mulan, F9, and No Time to Die have all been delayed as movie theaters in the United States limit the size of their crowds. Meanwhile, many theaters overseas have shut down entirely. Events such as SXSW and CinemaCon have been canceled, and productions on both the film and television side have slowed to a halt.
The Walking Dead and its spin-off Fear the Walking Dead are no exceptions, though the former is lucky enough to not currently be in production. Instead, the writers are currently gearing up for season 11, and according to showrunner Angela Kang, things are still going as planned. Speaking to THR about the unique situation, Kang explained the Walking Dead writers are "well set up to work remotely." She further said, "Today, nobody is going to be at the office. The room will continue to run. We're doing it by conference call and we're doing it by video conference. Everything will continue to run, but on a remote basis." It has long been a practice for the Walking Dead writers' room to have writers work remotely if they are not feeling well, so this is almost business as usual for them.
Thanks to video conferences, Kang and the other writers are able to meet and discuss the upcoming season. As Kang explained, "we are not currently impacted." The Walking Dead's tenth season is currently airing, and the eleventh has yet to begin production. However, depending on how long the pandemic lasts, production on season 11 could be impacted. Per Kang, "In terms of the production, it's all conversations that AMC is having and it's all being worked up behind the scenes, as I'm sure is happening everywhere else."
If any group of writers were going to be prepared for a mass outbreak like this, it would be those of The Walking Dead. The spread of COVID-19 has caused a great deal of uncertainty and restructuring, and it must be comforting for the Walking Dead writers to not have to change up their typical routines too much. Of course, if things continue and production on season 11 is delayed, then that could be a big issue. However, it sounds like it is still a ways off, so there is no need to worry at the present moment. At least for now, The Walking Dead can count itself among the lucky few not deeply affected by the outbreak.
The Walking Dead continues with "Walk With Us" tonight on AMC.
Source: THR