Robert Kirkman and AMC Developing THIEF OF THIEVES

Back in February when The Walking Dead broke its own basic cable record I wrote, “It’s hard to imagine that AMC isn’t hitting up Robert Kirkman for more show ideas at this point.”

Today it was announced via The Hollywood Reporter that AMC is working with Robert Kirkman to develop his newest book at Image Comics, Thief of Thieves.

A couple of quotes from Kirkman in the article:

“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.”

“AMC recognizes the limitless ideas generated by the comic industry. Their dedication to bringing The Walking Dead to life as a TV show has been key to its success and I’m excited about the potential of Thief of Thieves to reach similar levels of success.”

In addition to Robert Kirkman, current The Walking Dead producer David Alpert and former The Walking Dead producer Chic Eglee (who is also currently working on the Powers pilot at FX, which is apparently being completely re-done) are also developing the series.

Thief of Thieves is from writers Robert Kirkman and Nick Spencer and was designed to work in a collaborative fashion much like a television series so it’s no surprise that this was teed up and ready to go for AMC.

The third issue of Thief of Thieves hits stores today. All three are available at Graphicly.


Comments

  1. Why is the Monty Python classic: “The Money Song” in my head as I think about this?

    Oh yeah, cause Kirkman is getting even more money. I guess the only way you can succeed as a creator owned writer is if your last name is Kirkman and first name is Robert.

    • Look at it this way…if you bought Thief of Thieves #1, there’s now a better chance that you own a comic made in the last 5 years that will be worth more than cover price.

      I’m not sold yet on the comic book (I like it, but don’t love it), so I don’t even know if I’m interested in seeing it on TV.

    • That’s absurd. There are countless successful creator owned writers.

    • i hate that whole “don’t become TOO successful” mentality…..crossover success like this brings more attention to comics from the masses. I don’t see how that can be a bad thing.

    • @conor: Name me a creator right now that has 2 TV shows (one a hit tv show and the other in development) that came from a creator owned writer and I’ll apologize right now.

    • Avatar photo Paul Montgomery (@fuzzytypewriter) says:

      Mark Millar and Cullen Bunn have a number of projects in development.

    • @TNC: That’s kind of a ridiculous request. I have a more productive question: Should a popular television show be the bar for “success” for creator-owned comic book writers?

    • @Ken/Paul: Oh yeah I forgot about them….And Bendis has Powers….and Chew is SOMETIME going to be a Showtime show. Okay my bad, sorry.

      @Ken (again) Well Kirkman is certainly making that a benchmark for creators, and also some of the other people that have been mentioned. I mean if we see Saga get turned into a show or movie then it certainly seems like that has to be a barometer of success.

    • @Nextchamp Mignola had two Hellboy movies and a pilot for the Amazing Screw-On Head. I’d argue that’s MORE sucess than having one tv show and another in development

    • @Mike: I forgot about Mignola! Stupid me….I mean he kinda beat all of these guys to the punch in terms of success.

      Okay definitely a bad move on my part. Sorry for that.

    • I don’t think any of these guys, even Kirkman, can hold a candle to Eastman and Laird.

    • Eastman Laird are pretty good example. What about Joss Whedon? The ordering is reversed (tv show, then comic), and who owns it is a little fuzzy, but still…

  2. I read an issue of this, and it REALLY seemed like it was written for a movie. I’m guessing the transition will be seamless.

  3. He’s like the Mark Millar of television.

  4. Woo, time to grab up some copies of #1.

  5. I’m cool with the whole thing and would check out the show. I’m just not sure if it’s something we haven’t seen on TV before. Walking Dead is unlike any other TV series that I know of. This just seems like it could be produced by anybody. Then again, the comic hasn’t even had time to cook yet, so who knows where the story is going. I’d rather see an animated Invincible show, for adults.

  6. This could be a fun TV show. Each episode as a heist or something. I”ll totally check it out.

  7. This leads me to believe that this was always meant to be a T.V. show. Nothing wrong with that as it’s great to see these two mediums come together so well. As others have said, this just helps the comics industry and attracts more people to this great medium!

  8. It’s all in the execution.

  9. Not really a fan of Kirkman as a comic writer. And in his ifanboy inyetviews he comes of kinda I font know like he doesnt respect comics if they are done at marvel or dc. But its great to see a creator rewarded by sticking with his believe. I look forward to see how good it can be. Just like walking dead you font have to read the books to watch a shiw.

  10. I would watch the HELL out of a Witch Doctor television series.

  11. While I don’t care about the TV show much, since I actually enjoy comics as comics, but I just hope this doesn’t impact his comic work. I’m assuming he’ll try to be fairly involved like with the Walked Dead show.

    • This is my subjective opinion, but I think his comic work has already been impacted. I’ve fallen off every Kirkman book I read slowly, one by one, over the past year. Hey, maybe I’m just over Kirkman’s style (I’m also over Bendis, Brubaker and many others I used to love… this is becoming worrisome.)

  12. I have #1-3 but haven’t read them and wasn’t that interested in them, hopefully I like them but if not and the tv shows good I’ll check that out then maybe these 1st few issues will be worth a cpl bucks and I can sell em for something I like more.

  13. If they do I hope it stays more true to the comic than the walking dead did.

    • Now if only AMC could’ve gotten the rights to Locke & Key instead of Fox…

    • Honestly, I don’t mind at all that the show is different. That means that I can be surprised again. =)

      Locke & Key got picked up for a TV Show? Awesome! *googles search* By Fox?!?! Damn….that sucks…..”

  14. Wait… what the hell?!, sorry Walter, that comment obviously wasn’t meant to be a reply to you