AMC's upcoming "Walking Dead" companion series still doesn't have a name, but it's just gotten a two-season pickup from the network -- and a tentative debut date.

AMC announced Monday that the as-yet-untitled show will make its debut sometime in "late summer" this year, with a six-episode mini season. It will be followed by a full second season sometime in 2016.

The series is set in Los Angeles and follows characters played by Cliff Curtis ("Missing," "Gang Related"), Kim Dickens ("Gone Girl," "Sons Of Anarchy"), Frank Dillane ("Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"), and Alycia Debnam Carey ("Into the Storm"). The show was co-created and co-written by "Walking Dead" creator Robert Kirkman along with Dave Erickson, who will serve as executive producer and showrunner .

From the official press release:

"We take incredibly seriously the notion of building a satisfying companion series to the number one show on television. From the beginning of 'The Walking Dead' on AMC, we've been asked questions about what was going on in other parts of the zombie apocalypse, and what it looked like as the world really did 'turn.' Through this new series, we're going to find out," said Charlie Collier, AMC president. "Robert Kirkman, Dave Erickson and their writing team, along with an incomparable set of producers, cast and crew have created something remarkable and clearly distinct. "

[...]

"We feel empowered by this two-season commitment, a serious show of faith from our network partner AMC," Kirkman said. "I personally take it as a sign that they believe, like we do, that we've accomplished our goal of developing something original that can pay tribute to the original show and expand the world I created while at the same time having something new to say with this story. I'm very grateful that we now have the opportunity to tell this amazing story and show the fans that we really haven't scratched the surface yet when it comes to 'The Walking Dead.'"

AMC also announced plans to air the spinoff series's pilot internationally within 24 hours of its U.S. television debut.

[via: TVLine]

Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC