AMC announced today that they have signed on Michael Rooker (Jumper) and Norman Reedus (The Boondock Saints) to co-star in the upcoming series The Walking Dead. The two actors will play Merle Dixon (Rooker) and Daryl Dixon (Reedus) -- a redneck ex-con and his equally dangerous brother.

Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics, AMC's The Walking Dead is currently in production in Atlanta, GA, and is scheduled to premiere this October during AMC Fearfest, the network's annual blockbuster marathon of thriller and horror films.

Additional new cast members of The Walking Dead include Andrew Rothenberg (Jim), Juan Pareja (Morales), Iron E. Singleton (T-Dog), Jeryl Prescott Sales (Jacqui), Melissa McBride (Carol) and Adam Minarovich (Ed); all of whom are members of the "survivor's camp."