Comic creator Robert Kirkman and executive producers Gale Anne Hurd and Dave Alpert are behind the new series

It will apparently tell a brand-new story and feature a new cast of characters, altho♍ugh also be based on Kirkman'sꦫ long-running comic. It's expected to launch in 2015.

"Building on the success of the most popular show on television for adults 18-49 is literally a no-brainer," 🙈AMC president Charlie Collier said. "We look forward to working with Robert, Gale and Dave again as we develop an entirely new story and cast of characters. It&rsquo💜;s a big world and we can’t wait to give fans another unforgettable view of the zombie apocalypse."

Kirkman said: "After 10 years of writing the comic book series and being so close to the debut of our fourth, and in my opinion, best season of the TV series, I couldn't be more thrilled about getting the chance to create a new corner of The Walking Dead universe."

Season four of The Walking Dead returns to AMC on 13 October and will be . You can read about it in , , and also in the massive TV prev𝄹iew in on sale from Wednesday 18 September.