Director Frank Darabont is currently working on production of AMC’s mini-series “The Walking Dead.”

Darabont speaks to AMC about the project and adapting the popular comic book series in a new interview on AMC’s web blog for the series.

Q: What attracts you to the zombie genre?

A: I’ve always wanted to do my take on the zombie mythos, since I was a kid and I saw Romero’s Night of the Living Dead – the 1968 black and white version. For our zombie show I’m calling that the Book of Genesis, and whenever there’s a question about zombie behavior I go back to Night of the Living Dead. Here’s my favorite thing: the endless debate among the fans about how fast a zombie can move. There are the folks who just can’t stand seeing zombies running. I’m kind of in that camp, but if you look at the very first zombie in Night – the one in the cemetery chasing Barbara, he gets up to a pretty good jog. I’m keying our zombie behavior off of that film: Whether they’re in a very languid state or they’re on the attack, they’ll move no faster than that first zombie in Night of the Living Dead.

Q: Of course your other Bible is Robert Kirkman’s comic book series. How did you decide that was going to be the story?

A: There’s no big mystery about how I came across The Walking Dead: I walked into a comic book shop some years ago and saw it. Since I happen to be a zombie nut, I took it home, I read it, and I said “Oh my God, there’s a great series in this.” And I’ve been the horse pursuing that particular carrot for five years now, delighted to finally be on the set.

You can read the full interview HERE.