Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has announced that the third series in AMC’s The Walking Dead franchise will film its debut season in Virginia. The series will follow in the footsteps of the popular AMC program The Walking Dead, which recently finished its ninth season, and the current offshoot series Fear the Walking Dead, which both rank among the most-watched cable series on television. 

Production of the ten-episode series will begin in Central Virginia this summer. The show will be the second AMC series to film in the Commonwealth, following the critically acclaimed Revolutionary War spy drama TURN: Washington’s Spies, which filmed four seasons in Virginia from 2013–2017.

The series will feature two young female protagonists and focus on the first generation to come-of-age in the franchise’s apocalyptic realm.

“We are delighted to welcome AMC back to Virginia,” said Governor Northam. “The series will provide high-paying jobs for our skilled workers and will invite economic opportunity for Virginia businesses large and small. Uniquely, the series also brings with it a devoted global fan-base, creating immeasurable added value for the Commonwealth as the franchise’s powerful spotlight shines on Virginia.”

“The film production industry is a fast-growing sector of the Virginia economy with an annual total economic impact of almost $862 million in 2017,” said Brian Ball, Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “During their time here, AMC’s TURNhad a total economic impact of over $217 million in the Commonwealth, and this series marks the next chapter in a beneficial partnership between AMC and Virginia.”

“The Walking Dead franchise has one of the largest audiences on television today,” said Andy Edmunds, director of the Virginia Film Office. “This is no small feat considering the current content-rich climate, where viewers have thousands of options from which to choose. As home to the latest installment, Virginia will have access to this built-in, passionate audience and a tremendous film tourism opportunity. The Walking Dead’s original filming location, rural Senoia, Georgia, saw explosive economic growth thanks to thousands of tourists per year visiting to get a glimpse of filming sites. With Virginia already a wonderful place to visit and vacation, we are in the ultimate position to capitalize on this lucrative added tourism draw.”