To create that apocalyptic vibe, nothing beats Zack Snyder's style—those bold, oil-painting-like visuals that really capture the desolate, epic feel of a world gone to hell.
Zack Snyder's off the table, though. He's about to start shooting Ghost Rider.
So, we need a director with a similar vibe.
And Dunn already had a name in mind.
A week later, negotiations between Vivendi and Dunn Films were still grinding along.
Vivendi was asking $16.8 billion for all the pre-sale assets.
Dunn's team was fighting tooth and nail to get that number down to $16 billion or less.
That's when Frank Darabont walked back into the picture.
He'd spent a week poring over the script outline for The Walking Dead that Dunn had sent him. No surprise—he was all in.
Dunn announced he was pumping $100 million into the first season of The Walking Dead.
Talk about going big!
Generally, the first and last seasons of a TV show are the priciest. The last season makes sense—actors' salaries skyrocket. But the first season? That's when you're shelling out for custom props, building sets, and putting the whole production team together.
Even so, Dunn throwing a Hollywood blockbuster-level budget at a TV show was downright jaw-dropping.
The news hadn't leaked yet.
But once that $100 million figure hit the headlines, the internet was going to lose it.
Frank Darabont had never directed anything with a $100 million budget before.
He wasn't about to let this chance slip through his fingers.
This was his shot at a major comeback.
When he showed up at Dunn's office for their next meeting, he noticed a guy in his early thirties sitting there, looking a little stiff.
"Mr. Walker, you busy?" Frank asked softly, assuming Dunn was in the middle of something.
Dunn laughed. "Frank, come on in! Been waiting for you. Let me introduce you to a rising star—Francis Lawrence!"
Francis jumped to his feet. "Hi, Mr. Darabont. The Shawshank Redemption is one of my all-time favorite movies!"
Frank, a bit puzzled, shook his hand. "Nice to meet you."
He shot Dunn a curious glance.
Dunn waved them both to sit down, grinning. "Alright, The Walking Dead—you guys know the deal. It's a zombie show. Speaking of zombies, we can't ignore Resident Evil, this year's big zombie flick. Frank, what'd you think of it?"
"Stunning visuals, but it didn't dig deep enough into the human side of things. Fell into some clichés," Frank said bluntly. "Strengths were clear, but so were the flaws."
"Nailed it!" Dunn gave him a thumbs-up. "I'm sinking $100 million into The Walking Dead. Resident Evil? That was made for just over $30 million. You guys get how high my expectations are for this show, right?"
Frank nodded firmly. "Looking at all of Hollywood, I don't think anyone else has your kind of guts, Mr. Walker."
Francis chimed in, "Yeah, Band of Brothers blew everyone away. The Walking Dead… it could absolutely do the same."
Dunn shot him a thumbs-up too. "Exactly!"
Then he shifted gears. "Frank, you said Resident Evil had killer visuals. And you're right—Zack Snyder's movies, like Tim Burton's, pull you into this wild, vivid world. That's a strength we're bringing to The Walking Dead. As for the deeper human exploration you mentioned? That's where you come in, Frank. We all know that's your wheelhouse."
Frank caught the subtext. Dunn was divvying up roles.
He'd handle directing and the script, shaping the story's emotional core. But the visuals? Someone else was on that.
Zack Snyder was booked.
So who was it?
This thirty-something guy sitting here?
Was he even a director?
Frank's mind was racing with questions.
Dunn, all smiles, went on. "Back in the day, I plucked Zack out of the music video world, and he didn't let me down. Now he's one of Hollywood's rising stars. Music video directors have this knack for crafting bold, immersive visuals that pull you in."
Frank's eyes narrowed slightly. "So, Mr. Lawrence is a music video director?"
Dunn caught a hint of skepticism in his tone, maybe even a touch of dismissiveness.
He didn't like it.
His voice turned serious. "I've got high hopes for Francis, just like I did for Zack back then. He's going to be the assistant director on The Walking Dead, handling the visual side to get some experience under his belt. A few years down the line, I'll line him up with a big commercial film."
Dunn had already mentored a couple of directors—Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder.
J.J. Abrams was next in line.
And Francis Lawrence? The guy behind Constantine, I Am Legend, and The Hunger Games? No way Dunn was passing on him.
He'd already worked smoothly with folks like Sam Mendes, Danny Boyle, Stephen Daldry, and Patty Jenkins.
Dunn's plan? Scoop up every promising director in Hollywood.
Hearing Dunn's words, Francis's face lit up with gratitude, his heart pounding.
This was like Dunn opening a door to a whole new future for him.
Just like Zack Snyder, who went from Saw and Resident Evil to landing a massive project like Ghost Rider.
It looked like Francis was on the same path.
From shooting commercials and music videos to directing Hollywood blockbusters.
How could he not be thrilled?
How could he not be grateful?
Frank picked up on Dunn's serious tone and adjusted his attitude. He looked at Francis with a warm smile. "Working with Director Lawrence? I'd say The Walking Dead is already halfway to success."
…
Dunn Films was growing so fast that the planned headquarters campus had hit some delays. They'd even kicked off a second phase of construction.
But phase one was done, just waiting on final touches. By September, they'd definitely move into the new offices.
Dunn was so over the cramped, outdated building they were renting now.
Dunn Films, Marvel Studios, Rose Pictures—all squeezed in together.
It didn't scream "major player" at all.
Thankfully, it was mid-August. Just two more weeks.
Dunn's plan was to wrap up the acquisition first, then make a big splash by moving into the new campus.
They'd use the phase one conference center to drop a few bombshell announcements.
Show all of Hollywood that Dunn Walker was officially stepping into the big leagues.
Before, he had the clout but not the title.
Taking over Universal Pictures? That'd make it official—name and game.
Now, it was just a matter of sealing the deal with Vivendi.
Fingers crossed, they'd wrap it up in the next two weeks.