In a shocking move, THE WALKING DEAD creator, executive producer and director, Frank Darabont, is leaving the hit show as showrunner, reports Deadline.com. Rumors have the SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION director leaving the series completely. To emphasize the suddenness of the departure is the fact that he was at Comic Con last week promoting the series with graphic novel creator/exe producer Robert Kirkman and exec producer Gale Anne Hurd.

The second season is in production. The show is set to return to AMC on Oct. 16.