AMC already ordered a second season for "Fear the Walking Dead" even before it premieres. The first season of the spin-off series has six episodes, just like "The Walking Dead," but the sophomore run of the new AMC drama will last for 15 episodes.
Explaining the rise in the number of episodes, executive producer Dave Erickson told IGN, "We structured the [first] season in a way that they're still somewhat insulated from the greater truth of what's going on. And part of what they're going to see and explore when we get into Season 2 will be that very thing."
Erickson added that unlike "The Walking Dead," the spin-off will not feature anything involving the constant search for a sanctuary away from the walkers. The EP also couldn't tell if fans will see such in "Fear the Walking Dead" season 3, as they haven't looked into what could happen after season 2.
Fans also shouldn't expect crossovers between the shows. In the same IGN interview, executive producer Dave Alpert emphasized that there aren't any plans "right now," although he did say that it's possible.
"There might be an Easter egg or two," he said.
For now, what "Fear the Walking Dead" will allow viewers and Alpert and his team to explore is the starting point of the zombie breakout, what it looks like as it forms, and how more and more people learn about it, all while not stamping on "the mother ship" that is "The Walking Dead."
"There will be a build. We will get to a place over the course of the season where we will see elements of the original show sort of thread in throughout our story," Erickson explained. "But it is by design. We tried to slow burn the story — make it as much about the anxiety and tension and paranoia that goes with this outbreak as much as it is about the actual confrontations with zombies."
"Fear the Walking Dead" premieres Aug. 23.
