Passed-On Zombie Series, ‘BABYLON FIELDS’, Gets Dug Back Up

A few years back, I watched a pilot for a show called Babylon Fields directed by Michael Cuesta (L.I.E., “Six Feet Under”,12 and Holding, “Dexter”) and was blown away. This was prior to The Walking Dead but still took a similar premise from a 2004 French film, They Came Back. They Came Back (Original title: Les Revenants) was used as the basis for the latest French television series The Returned. Turns out The Returned is actually getting an American television adaptation on A&E via Lost‘s Carlton Cuse. Since zombies are hot, hot, hot, it has caused some reconsideration about the Babylon Fields property over at NBC.

According to Deadline, NBC has put an order for a new pilot for Babylon Fields with Michael Cuesta, his brother Gerald Cuesta and Michael Atkinson – all of which are the original creators. Originally, CBS previously passed on a series order of Babylon Fields as they didn’t like the overall tone of the show. The tone of the show is what excelled it past mediocrity. Much like the French film aforementioned, the pilot opens up wounds thought to be previously healed by the passing of loved ones – or in one person’s case, a unloved one.

I would highly recommend watching the pilot as it is something I have mentioned to people wanting real drama out of a “zombie” show. It is well acted and would have been a hell of a show. I’m sure that NBC’s version will be recast but I really hope that some of the actors from the original can come back, particularly Jamey Sheridan.

I have embedded the pilot for CBS’ Babylon Fields below.