Robert Kirkman is about to do for exorcisms what he did for zombies.

Only his sister (Wrenn Schmidt) still tries to include him.

A preacher (Philip Glenister) takes Kyle under his wing as the pair perform exorcisms on violent offenders.

Robert Kirkman:Not really, I guess.

I like adapting things.

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Chris Black:Depending on how much money they give you, right?

RK:Yeah, exactly.

CB:I enjoy being in the Robert Kirkman business.

RK:But no, its actually a lot of fun and I really enjoy the process.

CB:I came in later in the process.

Robert had already created the pilot.

Hed written the pilot episode but he was very involved.

He was very committed to this being done the way he wanted it done.

It needs to be done right or hes not going to do it.

What do you thinkWalking Deadfans will appreciate aboutOutcast?

RK:All the zombies that are in it.

There are no zombies inOutcast.

I thinkOutcastoffers that exact same thing but it provides that experience in much different ways.

There isnt this ever present zombie threat.

CB:I would break it down to an even more elemental answer.

I think what people appreciate aboutThe Walking Deadis what they appreciate about any good story well told.

I loved all the George Romero movies.

I invested in those characters and started following those stories.

Where did the inspiration for the story come from?

CB:I think you could writeThe X-Fileswithout necessarily believing that aliens were coming to Earth.

We never judge him.

We treat that character with complete respect.

Less so, the actor.

RK:Yeah, the actor, whatever.

Youve been picked up for a second season before the show even premieres.

CB:So no pressure or anything.

Did you pitch two seasons from the beginning?

RK:I know roughly where the story is going all the way to the end.

That was very much part of the pitch.

CB:They dont buy a pilot.

RK:All those things, I think, are freeing.

Knowing that there arent boundaries to work within content-wise or structure-wise.

It doesnt mean that one is better than the other.

It just means that different projects work different ways.

Its definitely something I could get used to.

But to me, the most liberating, exciting thing is the storytelling.

RK:Not really.

So youve got to stay focused on what youre doing.

I would probably hit a lot more stumbling blocks than I already do.

Once you see it on TV, do you ever think, I shouldve done this in the comic?

RK:Yeah, that happens frequently.

Thats just when I write comics, I write by myself.

Im working with artists, Paul Azaceta, Elizabeth Breitweiser.

Theres an editorial team that read scripts and dont give me notes.

And its like, Uh, yeah, no, sure, yeah, definitely.

No, but I wish I was.

I didnt think about that at all.

Thats the benefit of the writers room.

CB:Youre being challenged and you have to up your game.

Its why I love working on television rather than being a novelist or a playwright or something like that.

And when you get stuck, you might go to the room.

Its like guys, this isnt working, help.

And you have people whose job it is and whose passion it is to pitch in.

It makes it fun.

Some of the directors youve chosen, Adam Wingard and Howard Deutch, are feature directors.

Were you specifically looking for people from the feature world?

CB:Not specifically.

I think theres definitely a sense that we want the show to look cinematic.

We want people to spark to the material and look at it and go, I love this.

I want to do this.

I guess the answer is sort of yes or no.

RK:Bring your eyes.

Direct an episode ofOutcast.