We now have confirmation on who will play two of the lead roles in AMC’s upcoming TV adaptation of The Walking Dead comics, which is being written, directed and produced by Frank Darabont. They’re not necessarily the most recognizable names, but series creator Robert Kirkman seems pretty pleased with the choices — especially Andrew Lincoln, the man who will play small-town cop Rick Grimes:

“Wow, what an amazing find this guy is… Writing Rick Grimes month after month in the comic series, I had no idea he was an actual living breathing human being, and yet here he is. I couldn’t be more thrilled with how this show is coming together.”

There were rumours that Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone) would land the lead role, but this turned out not to be the case. Lincoln is a British actor who has starred in Gangster No. 1 and Love Actually, as well as the TV series Afterlife. He will be joined by Jon Bernthal (The Pacific, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian), who will play Grimes’ former partner Shane.