Frank Darabont, the creator, executive producer and director of AMC’s hit zombie show ‘The Walking Dead,’ has stepped down from his role of showrunner, Deadline is reporting. The news comes as the series is currently in production of its second season, which is scheduled to premiere on October 16, 2011. The news comes after Darabont attended Comic-Con on July 22 to sit on the show’s panel with fellow executive producers Robert Kirkman, who created the graphic novel the show is based on, and Gale Anne Hurd.

It has been yet publicly revealed if Darabont will remain with ‘The Walking Dead’ as an executive producer or director. The news of his departure as showrunner comes after he spent five years trying to develop a television series of the graphic novel. He also wrote and directed the show’s pilot.

There have been reports saying that Darabont has stepped down as ‘The Walking Dead’s showrunner because he’s spent most of his career writing, and later directing, such films as ‘The Shawshank Redemption,’ ‘The Green Mile’ and ‘The Mist.’ He reportedly never adjusted to the daily work associated with producing a television series.

It has also been reported that Glen Mazzara, who Darabont hired as an executive producer for ‘The Walking Dead’s second season and who has showrunning experience, may fill the void left by Darabont. But his departure and the search for a new showrunner hasn’t affected production on the series, which is still expected to air as scheduled in the fall.

Written by: Karen Benardello