If just watching the bleak, post-apocalyptic zombie world on TV isn't enough, Robert Kirkman, the creator of "The Walking Dead" series, has developed something more hands on.
Coming to Philips Arena May 31, "The Walking Dead Escape" is an interactive, immersive obstacle course where attendees can be a zombie or a human being trying to avoid becoming a zombie.
"The Walking Dead," which is currently shooting season five around metro Atlanta, is the most popular cable series in history, averaging more than 13 million viewers this past season. It draws more 18-to-49 year-old viewers than any other non-sports program on TV. It has spawned local tours (Atlanta Movie Tours), conventions (The Walker Stalker convention), haunted houses (Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse) and zombie races (The Zombie Run).
This event includes elements of all of the above.
The organizers tried the concept first at San Diego's Comic Con in 2012 and feedback was so positive, they decided to take it on the road.
Philips Arena becomes a faux evacuation center after zombies had started rampaging the city. People who pay to be "walkers," the term uses on the TV show for a zombie, get full make-up treatment and training on how to shuffle like a walker. They get to be on the course for about 90 minutes. Survivors, at a lower price, can get chased by walkers through the course, which should take about 35 to 40 minutes.
Actors play military supervisors and other characters trying to keep people calm amid a deteriorating situation.
"An arena or stadium could plausibly be an evacuation center," said David Isaacs, president of Skybound Entertainment, Kirkman's company which organizes the event. "And rather than projecting themselves into this situation, they get to live the scenario."
The winding trail is about 1.5 miles in length and will also include a highway area, a prison, a hospital stop and a quarantine area. "We put people through a lot of scenarios," Isaacs said. "Some are psychological. Some are physical."
The show begins at 6 p.m. and will run in waves until midnight, sort of like a haunted house set up. Isaacs said there are 600 to 800 people on the course at any one time.
There are also $24 tickets for folks who merely want to watch from the stands and go to a special after party.
If you go
"The Walking Dead Escape Live"
6 p.m., May 31
150.00 (VIP), $95.00 (Walker), $75.00 (Survivor), $24.00 (Spectator)
Philips Arena
www.thewalkingdeadescape.com
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