One of the nation’s most sought-after political positions has been filled well in advance of Election Day: AMC announced on Friday that the British actorDavid Morrissey will play the role of the Governor on its hit apocalypse-by-zombie drama “The Walking Dead.”

Mr. Morrissey, whose British television credits include the original BBC mini-series version of “State of Play,” the Channel 4 adaptation of “Red Riding” and the rejuvenated “Doctor Who,” will play a “Walking Dead” character well-known to readers of that comic-book series and who will take on a central role in future episodes of the AMC program.

In a news release, the network described the character of the Governor as “the leader of Woodbury, a small settlement of survivors” who “becomes the chief antagonist for Rick Grimes,” the heroic character played by Andrew Lincoln. AMC said the Governor will appear in Season 3 of “The Walking Dead,” for which it has committed to 16 episodes.

The current 13-episode season of “The Walking Dead” will broadcast its finale on March 18.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/the-walking-dead-casts-david-morrissey-as-the-governor/