‘The Walking Dead’ Spin-off Series Confirmed, Cast of Characters Revealed

AMC has already ordered two seasons of The Walking Dead spin-off show, a prequel of sorts to the current series that takes place in Los Angeles just when the zombie apocalypse struck and society was just beginning to fall apart. The first season, which will consist of six hour-long episodes, will premiere in the "late summer," with season two set for 2016.

Robert Kirkman, who created The Walking Dead comic series, co-wrote the pilot with Dave Erickson. They will also serve as executive producers for the spin-off series with The Walking Dead's Gale Anne Hurd, Dave Alpert, and Greg Nicotero. Erickson will furthermore act as showrunner. Adam Davidson directed the pilot.

According to TV Line, six principal characters in the upcoming series have been named. They, and their official description, are:

• SEAN CABRERA | A Latino male in his early 40s, Sean is a good man trying to do right by everyone in his life.

• CODY CABRERA | Sean's whip-smart and rebellious teenage son. Known as the angriest kid in town.

• NANCY TOMPKINS | A thirtysomething single mom to two kids, Nancy looks like the girl next door, but there's an edge to her.

• NICK TOMPKINS | Nancy's screwed up teenage son. He's too old to stay home, too scared to flee.

• ASHLEY TOMPKINS | Nancy's mostly level-headed teenage daughter. Her ambition is in direct proportion to her older brother's failures. She loves her mom but it's time to get out of Dodge.

• ANDREA CHAPMAN | A somewhat wilted flower child, fortysomething Andrea - yep, another Andrea! - has retreated to the outskirts of the city to recover after a horrible marriage.

As gathered by The Hollywood Reporter, Cliff Curtis stars as Sean Cabrera, a teacher who shares a son with his ex-wife. Kim Dickens co-stars as Nancy Tompkins, a guidance counselor who works at the school with Sean and is seeing him romantically. Frank Dillane is cast as Nancy's son Nick, who has battled a drug problem. Alycia Debnam Carey plays Nancy's ambitious daughter Ashley, who is the polar opposite of Nick and has dreams of leaving L.A. for Berkeley when the apocalypse strikes.