<P> In September 2013, AMC announced they were developing a companion series to The Walking Dead, which follows a different set of characters created by Robert Kirkman . In September 2014, AMC ordered a pilot, which was written by Kirkman and Dave Erickson, and directed by Adam Davidson, and is executive produced by Kirkman, Erickson, Gale Anne Hurd, and David Alpert, with Erickson serving as showrunner . The project was originally known as Cobalt; Kirkman confirmed, in March 2015, that the series would be titled Fear the Walking Dead . On March 9, 2015, AMC announced it had ordered Fear the Walking Dead to series, with a two - season commitment . The series premiered on August 23, 2015 . </P> <P> In December 2014, the first four starring roles were cast: Kim Dickens as Madison Clark, the female lead; Cliff Curtis as Travis Manawa, the male lead; Frank Dillane as Nick; and Alycia Debnam - Carey as Alicia . In April and May 2015, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Mercedes Mason were announced as series regulars, both in unknown roles . </P> <P> In November 2017, it was confirmed that Lennie James who portrays Morgan Jones on The Walking Dead would crossover and join the main cast in the fourth season . The fourth season also sees the additions of several new series regulars, played by Garret Dillahunt, Jenna Elfman, and Maggie Grace . </P> <P> Production of the pilot episode began in early 2015 and ended on February 6, 2015 . The pilot episode was filmed in Los Angeles; the remaining first - season episodes were filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada . Production on the remaining five first - season episodes began on May 11, 2015 . Adam Davidson, who directed the pilot, also directed the series' second and third episodes . </P>

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