"The Walking Dead" will hit its October 16 season-two premiere date but it's still unclear what role, if any, departing Frank Darabont will have going forward on the zombie-apocalypse drama he created last fall.

AMC senior vice president of original programing Joel Stillerman told the Television Critics Association's summer press tour on Thursday that production on the show would not be delayed.

AMC had planned to limit its presence at the TCA event to a panel discussion of "Hell on Wheels," the network's ambitious upcoming western. But Tuesday's news about Darabont's surprising exit from the popular series prompted a change of plans.

Addressing the media before the "Hell on Wheels" panel, Stillerman fielded questions about the status of "The Walking Dead" and said, "Production won't miss a beat."