'Walking Dead' creators to produce pre-apocalyptic Korean drama

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Robert Kirkman and David Alpert's Skybound Entertainment is partnering with international streaming service Viki to produce an original Korean-language drama Five Year.

Walking Dead creator Kirkland wrote the story for the series, which follows a family living under threat of a devastating meteor heading toward Earth.

"This has been a story I have wanted to tell for quite some time," Kirkman said in a statement from Skybound.

"David and I wanted to make sure it found a proper home where it could grow and breathe creatively. Looking at what Viki has done in not only the dramatic series space, but transforming the way viewers consume and translate media, we knew immediately Five Year had found its home."

Skybound co-founder Alpert said the two partners were "fans of Korean cinema, television, and culture," saying this initial collaboration is "the first of many."

"In many ways, Viki and Skybound represent the future of global entertainment," Viki CEO Tammy H. Nam added. "We're thrilled to be working with the creatros and executive producers of one of the most popular TV series of al time."

"The fact that David and Robert wanted to make Five Year as a K-drama is a testament to the massive global popularity and quality of Asian programming."

Viki, described as a global TV site offering access to translated shows and movies from countries like Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, will be the 16-episode first season's international home as it also broadcasts on Korean television.

Five Year will be the second original series from Viki. Its first series Dramaworld -- set in both Korea and Los Angeles -- will debut on the site in spring.