'Walking Dead's' Robert Kirkman Developing Exorcism Drama

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Robert Kirkman

The Walking Dead executive producer Robert Kirkman is developing a third drama.

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Teaming with Walking Dead executive producer David Alpert, Fox International Channels and his Image Comics imprint Skybound and Circle of Confusion, Kirkman's potential show is based on his upcoming comic series set in the world of exorcism.

The script centers on Kyle Barnes, who has been plagued by possession since he was a child. Now an adult, he embarks on a spiritual journey to find answers, but what he uncovers could mean the end of life on Earth as we know it.

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Kirkman and Circle of Confusion's Alpert will executive produce the project, which emerged after the writer/exec producer's long-standing work with Fox International Channels, which distributes Walking Dead worldwide.  

"Sharon Tal Yguado and the entire team at Fox International Channels have been instrumental in making The Walking Dead the worldwide success that it has become," Kirkman said in a statement announcing the news Monday. "I couldn't resist the opportunity to continue working with this forward-thinking and extremely talented group."

Said Yguado, executive vp global scripted programming and original development at FIC: “Exorcism has captivated movie audiences all over the world but has never been explored on television. Robert Kirkman, who forever changed the scope of cable TV with The Walking Dead, possesses an unparalleled talent of telling big-concept stories in a smart and incredibly genuine way. We couldn’t be more excited to be working with him on this project, which we see as a reinvention of the genre."

The exorcism drama joins the adaptation of Kirkman's latest Image/Skybound comic Thief of Thieves, which is in development at AMC with Circle of Confusion, Alpert and Chic Eglee. The series, which has continued to sell out first-printing issues, revolves around the double life of a master thief and his estranged family.

In its third season, AMC's Walking Dead has become an unstoppable ratings force, ranking as the top scripted series in primetime and often besting broadcast efforts in the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic. The zombie drama's February midseason return scored a series record 12.3 million total viewers.

For his part, Kirkman remains one of Hollywood's most powerful authors -- coming in at No. 6 on The Hollywood Reporter's November ranking.

Kirkman is repped by CAA, Circle of Confusion and Katz Golden.