'Fear The Walking Dead' Gets Blood the Pumping in First Clip

Walking Dead companion series Fear The Walking Dead has made no secret of its intent to explore the undead’s rise to power before Rick Grimes, though one wonders how the AMC prequel drama will cultivate the same tension without walkers lurking behind every corner. Who fears the walking dead, when its characters have plenty more to run from, judging by the first clip?

AMC today unleashed our first extended look at Fear The Walking Dead footage, understandably lacking in any of the titular zombies, but certainly emphasizing the fear. Sans any explanation, we see series lead Nick (Harry Potter alum Frank Dillane) running for his life in a state of undress, though presumably from an angry husband or dog, rather than any undead menace.

Still, slow motion! Brahms! Heartbeats and pained expression! Oh, do you remember the silly things we’d fret before the world came to … Fear The Walking Dead?

::: Tosses on shades, immediately eaten by zombies :::

Thus far of Fear The Walking Dead, The Last Airbender star Cliff Curtis leads the cast as divorced teacher Travis, alongside Gone Girl star Kim Dickens as high school guidance counselor Madison. Also cast in the role of her two children from a previous marriage are Dillane and The 100 star Alycia Debnam Carey. Orange is the New Black star Elizabeth Rodriguez, Ruben Blades and Mercedes Mason also round out the ensemble, which recently picked up Southland‘s Shawn Hatosy.

The companion series to AMC’s monster smash will follow its predecessor with a six-episode first season, and a second season of regular length already ordered for 2016. Additionally, while the companion series will begin as a prequel to the zombie apocalypse, creator Robert Kirkman has expressed that the two series will eventually catch up to one another. Walking Dead executive producers Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd and David Alpert will all take part in the new L.A.-set series, while Sons of Anarchy and Low Winter Sun vet Dave Erickson will both co-write and executive produce, Adam Davidson having directed the pilot.

You can check out the latest videos below, stay tuned for its presentation at Comic-Con 2015 and get ready to Fear the Walking Dead all over again by its August premiere.

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