Post-apocalyptic dramas have a way of grabbing hold of our imaginations, and MGM+’s upcoming series Earth Abides is shaping up to be no exception.

Slated to premiere on December 1, 2024, this adaptation of George R. Stewart’s novel feels timely, especially after years of struggling with a global pandemic.

Created by Todd Komarnicki and starring Alexander Ludwig (Vikings) as Isherwood “Ish” Williams and Jessica Frances Dukes (Ozark) as Emma, the series promises to take on the “end of the world” genre with an updated yet nostalgic look.

If you’ve been craving another apocalyptic tale to sink your teeth into, the recently released four-minute trailer of Earth Abides has likely already piqued your interest. It aired right after the season finale of ‘From’ and gave us just enough to speculate on what’s to come.

In ‘Earth Abides,’ Ish survives a rattlesnake bite only to return to a world devastated by a mysterious illness.

While most people succumb to isolation or despair, Ish does the unthinkable: he dares to rebuild.

If you’re getting ‘Walking Dead’ vibes, you’re not hallucinating. Kirkman’s critically acclaimed comic (and the subsequent TV adaptation) shares thematic DNA with ‘Earth Abides’.

Unlike ‘The Walking Dead’, which threw viewers into a zombie apocalypse with Rick Grimes waking from a coma, ‘Earth Abides’, on the other hand, takes a quieter but no less emotional approach. Ish isn’t battling undead hordes but something more profound and that is the loss of human civilization as we know it.

But let’s set the record straight: Stewart’s novel predates ‘The Walking Dead’ by decades. This makes ‘Earth Abides’ not just another post-apocalyptic story, but one of the foundational stories of the genre. So, if anything, Kirkman’s saga might owe a nod to Earth Abides.

The trailer opens with Ish wandering into a remote cabin after being bitten by a snake. A montage follows, showing him slipping in and out of consciousness, battling fever and exhaustion. At one point, he makes a wry reference to Rip Van Winkle, hinting at the disorientation of waking up to a world transformed.

While the clip doesn’t specify how long Ish has been recovering, his car, seen later, offers a clue: it’s covered in dirt and debris, suggesting weeks or even months have passed. Fans of the novel will recognize this as an important moment, where Ish begins to confront the seriousness of what’s happened. He’s not just fighting for his own survival anymore; he’s about to start laying the foundation for a new civilization.

Jessica Frances Dukes plays Emma, Ish’s partner in rebuilding society. In the trailer, Emma’s introduction feels understated but powerful. Instead of the katana-wielding, dreadlocked warrior archetype black woman we’ve come to expect from characters like Michonne in ‘The Walking Dead’, Emma conveys a nurturing strength. Not only is she a survivor in the novel, she’s a symbol of hope, stability, and the power of human connection in a fractured world. The decision to cast Dukes in this role feels like a deliberate, modern nod to the progressive themes of the original novel.

‘Earth Abides’ will be a six-episode limited series. Adapting a 1949 novel for a contemporary audience is no small feat, but if the trailer is any indication, the series will stay true to the book’s reflective tone while keeping it modern.

Earth Abides is about what it means to be human when the world as we know it is gone. If you’re a fan of apocalyptic storytelling, ‘Earth Abides’ is one to watch. And for fans of ‘The Walking Dead’, it’s a chance to experience the roots of the genre that made Rick Grimes and Michonne household names.