"The Walking Dead" prequel spin-off series finally found its female lead. 

Kim Dickens, who was recently seen in the critically-acclaimed movie "Gone Girl," has been cast for the role of Nancy Tompkins, the lead female character in the upcoming series tentatively titled "Cobalt." Nancy is said to be a former guidance counselor who is in a relationship with Cliff Curtis' character Sean Cabrera. The couple, along with their teenage children, has to work their way to survive in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles.  

Several reports stated that Dickens' character in the upcoming spinoff "looks like the girl next door but has a darkness to her, a troubled past that will come back to haunt her." 

Rumors circulated online mentioning that a lot of actresses tried out to get the lead role for AMC's prequel to "The Walking Dead" series, but it was the 49-year-old actress who landed the part. Dickens was also featured in another fan-favorite TV series "Sons of Anarchy," where she portrayed the role of Colette Jane in six episodes. 

"TWD Cobalt" executive producer Dave Erickson has worked with Dickens in the past, since he was one of the executive producers of "SoA" before he left to take care of the spin-off series. 

So far, the only information given about the "Cobalt" spin-off project is the casting of its four lead characters. Aside from Dickens and Curtis, the show will also feature "Harry Potter" star Frank Dillane as Sean's troubled son Cody and "Into the Storm's" Alycia Debnam Carey as Cody's highly ambitious sister Ashley. 

The series is set in Los Angeles, and it will have a timeline different from the currently airing original show "The Walking Dead." It is not mentioned, however, if the allegedly called "Cobalt" will also feature any of the characters from the original series. 

"The Walking Dead Cobalt" is expected to start filming next year.