Following the runaway success of “The Walking Dead,” AMC might bring another Robert Kirkman creation to TV.
AMC has announced that Kirkman is developing a drama based on his new heist comic “Thief of Thieves,” for the cable network. Published by Image/Skybound, the series follows Conrad Paulson, the world’s greatest thief on a mission to steal only items that already have been stolen in an effort to atone for all of his wrongdoings. Kirkman and artist Shawn Martinbrough created the comic. It debuted Feb. 8 and sold out the same day.
Kirkman, “The Walking Dead” executive producer David Alpert and Chic Eglee (“The Shield,” “Dexter”) are teaming up on the series. Alpert and Kirkman will produce with Eglee, who will serve as showrunner.
“Much like ‘The Walking Dead’ brought horror to television in a unique and groundbreaking way, I feel ‘Thief of Thieves’ can do the same thing for heist stories, showing the humanity of all the characters, including the criminals,” Kirkman said in a statement.
Alpert added: “It’s incredibly exciting to put the band back together with Robert, Chic and AMC; it just feels great.”
Additonal info from AMC:
Kirkman developed “Thief of Thieves” based upon his experience in the writer’s room of “The Walking Dead” after observing how the ideas got more creative and thrilling when a group of talented writers were working together to make the show as interesting as possible. The first arc of the comic is being written by Nick Spencer and Shawn Martinbrough is the artist. Kirkman created the story and has a “head writer” in charge of each arc of “Thief of Thieves.” The story focuses on master thief Conrad Paulson who, while attempting to reconcile with his estranged wife and son, vows to walk the straight and narrow, only to discover he’s completely addicted to the thrill of stealing. Now he must feed his addiction by stealing only what has been stolen, as the “Thief of Thieves.”
The deal was brokered by CAA, Katz Golden Rosenman for Kirkman, Behr Abramson for Alpert/Circle of Confusion, Michael Gendler for Eglee and Marci Wiseman, head of business affairs for AMC with Roger Arar at Loeb and Loeb.
