Robert Kirkman, creator of "The Walking Dead" comic series and supervisor for both the main series and the upcoming companion series "Fear the Walking Dead," stated on multiple occasions that the latter is not a prequel but is a separate story set in the same universe. In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, the writer finally gave some answers on how "Fear" will overlap with the flagship series throughout its course on television. 

In the interview, Kirkman reiterated that the first season takes place during the early days of the zombie outbreak. He continued to explain that it is going to be "organic" and "behind the scenes" at first as people don't really understand yet what is going on. 

He said that "Fear" will explore how the zombie outbreak affects people's regular lives and how civilization slowly begins to crumble. This all takes place during the period when Rick Grimes is still in his coma, shown in season 1 of "The Walking Dead." 

"I will say that I don't consider this show to be a prequel to The Walking Dead," Kirkman again stated, "because there will be a point where a certain episode of this show will line up with season 2 of "The Walking Dead," and a certain episode of this show will line up with season 3 of "The Walking Dead." 

When asked how long before the series catches up to the timeline of the main series, Kirkman only stated that at this point, that particular plot detail will remain a mystery. 

Meanwhile, according to a report from Cinema Blend, it is very unlikely that characters from the flagship series will make an appearance in "Fear." Fans have speculated, however, that Morales and his family, last seen in season 1, might make an appearance in the companion series. They left Georgia and were heading toward Alabama but it may be possible that they were in California prior to the events of "The Walking Dead" season 1.