AMC “The Walking Dead” Teamed With Orange Comet For NFT Release
The zombie apocalypse is fast approaching, and the still-frothy world of NFT hype will be overtaken by a slew of zombies.
AMC Networks is taking a massive swing at the non-fungible token mania with a long-term NFT strategy aimed at keeping the undead franchise alive after the show ends TV.
AMC has teamed with Orange Comet, a NFT creative studio that is producing and marketplace for a wide range of “Walking Dead” NFT content.
The unique NFTs will be released in multiple releases, with the first taking place on Sunday, February 20, at 1 p.m. ET to commemorate the premiere of Part 2 of 3 of “The Walking Dead”s extended final season, which will air that evening at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.
Starting at $50 each, the first set of 10,000 generative art works will be available for purchase. It includes classic and current characters from “The Walking Dead”. At $250, you may get the lower-tier bundle that includes 750 original animations inspired by “TWD” scenes. Orange Comet’s marketplace will enable users to purchase NFTs using credit cards as well as cryptocurrency.
Orange Comet will also offer NFTs known as “Walker Access Passes,” which can be purchased for $311 for a limited time (a reference to Season 11). Each of these is a one-of-a-kind NFT that will provide access to unique future “The Walking Dead” NFT drops throughout the year. After the 24-hour period has passed, the “Walker Access Pass” will not be available for a whole year.
“As the ‘Walking Dead’ flagship series enters into its final stretch this year, we are excited to provide our hordes of passionate fans with a unique, new way to celebrate the series they’ve loved for the past 11 seasons,” said Kim Kelleher, AMC’s president, commercial revenue and partnerships.
Kelleher stated that Orange Comet designed NFTs “reflect the creativity and innovation the series has embodied since its premiere, and we’re thrilled to partner with them on this epic journey and pay tribute to the phenomenon that is ‘The Walking Dead.’”
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are a type of blockchain technology that allows intellectual property owners to produce and sell digital collectibles that are like baseball cards or physical art. The current NFT craze began in early 2021, and it is still going strong in a number of industries including entertainment, music, and sports.
“In my opinion, this is a form of entertainment,” Orange Comet is a veteran television production company co-founded by former TV producer David Broome, who is also the firm’s CEO. “The game plan is, how do you reach the masses and get them to up their fandom — to get them to theme parks, get their butts into movie theaters and increase their digital collectibles.”
On February 20th, “The Walking Dead” NFTs will be available on the Orange Comet Marketplace, which is powered by Eluvio’s blockchain technology. Striker Entertainment, a licensing agency, handled the transaction. Fans can pre-register for the NFT drop now at orangecomet.com, where they will be able to purchase “The Walking Dead” NFTs after signing up for an Eluvio digital media wallet.
After the initial drop, additional “Walking Dead” NFTs will be accessible throughout the final season of the program — culminating in the launch of a virtual community dedicated to the series, where fans will be able to buy, sell and trade their NFTs, as well as participate in real-world fan experiences connected to the show. In the “The Walking Dead” universe, NFTs will also exist around characters and content from future and still-to-be released series in the zombie apocalypse saga.
Broome, who has appeared on “The Biggest Loser” and “Ultimate Beastmaster,” helped found Orange Comet. NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner was a partner, as were Gloria and Emilio Estefan. To date, the firm has raised roughly $20 million.
“‘The Walking Dead’s’ stunning imagery, incredible array of characters and epic scope provides an inspiring and collaborative canvas for Orange Comet to continue its best-in-class, creative-first approach to the development of NFTs,” said Broome.
Broome also said that the company has about 40 employees and that all of the creative design and 3D animations are created in-house. “That’s the key to this stuff,” he said. “To me, [NFTs] are a game of providing the best content — the best creative wins.”
Orange Comet previously released one title each in December for Stan Lee’s “Chakra the Invincible,” a superhero from India created with Sharad Devarajan. According to Broome, the 7,000 distinct generative “Chakraverse” art works and Lee’s first “Chakra The Invincible” graphic novel limited edition sold out in less than a minute. In addition, the Orange Comet teamed up with the NHL’s New York Islanders and UBS Arena to create and sell NFTs under a multiyear agreement.
Will you purchase a “Walking Dead” NFT? Let us know in the comments below what you think!
