Surprising absolutely no one, AMC is officially moving forward with their planned Walking Dead companion series.

Prior to even airing the pilot for the zombie spin-off, the higher-ups at AMC have decided to renew the series for a second season. They have also announced that the first season, which will consist of six episodes, is set to premiere sometime late this Summer.

Dave Erickson (Sons of Anarchy) will serve as showrunner for the series which is expected to take place in Los Angeles during the zombie apocalypse. Set to star in the series is Cliff Curtis (Live Free or Die Hard) as a teacher in a relationship with a guidance counselor, played by the always fantastic Kim Dickens (Gone Girl). Frank Dillane (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) will play Dickens’ drug-addled son while Alycia Debnam Carey (Into the Storm) plays her daughter who can’t wait to leave LA.

While AMC’s decision to expand their Walking Dead brand is an absolute no-brainer financially, here’s hoping they’re able to come up with a more creatively consistent zombie show this time around. I am certainly still a fan of The Walking Dead and feel like it may finally be reaching its full-potential, but I’m just hoping this time around they picked a showrunner in Erickson that fits their creative vision and is able to carry on his duties past just a season or two.

Regardless, we here at Morbidly Amusing will have more news on The Walking Dead‘s companion series as it becomes available.