The Walking Deads spin-off series, Fear The Walking Dead, is set to air this summer but for those who are sceptical about the new show, director Greg Nicotero has promised fans it will not be a carbon copy of the original series and will offer a new perspective into the zombie apocalypse.

Hours before The Walking Deads season five finale aired on Fox, IBTimes UK spoke to Andrew Lincoln who plays group leader Rick Grimes, and Nicotero - also a special effects make-up designer - at Londons Soho Hotel, where they discussed the direction of the spin-off.

Nicotero, 52, said: Its really fascinating. What weve been able to do is weve been able to craft a show that lives in a universe but feels like a completely different show. We didnt want a carbon copy of The Walking Dead because that wouldnt be prudent. I just dont think it would have made a lot of sense.

So having the show set in Los Angeles [and] at a completely different time as walkers are beginning to take over the world... The idea, much like our show, its really about the relationships and about the families and how they handle it and deal with it, so its fascinating.

The first teaser has been released for the new series and hints it will take place before the zombie infection has wiped out the majority of the population. A news reporter can be heard informing the public of a virus taking over five states, while encouraging everyone to get a flu shot.

The Walking Deads season five finale saw the survivors clash with the group at Alexandria after days of tension building between the two sides. British actor Lincoln explained the parallel between the groups.

He said: I also love the fact that weve moved to a civilisation. I think it really deepens the show and it feels like were moving into a new area where you find a man who is very hard-lined and we are damaged goods. Weve come into this community and its like we are the poison and theyre a bunch of innocents.