The female lead has been cast in the Walking Dead companion series, according to Deadline, finalizing the major roles.  Kim Dickens, who drew attention most recently in Gone Girl, will play Nancy Tomkins, a guidance counselor in a relationship with teacher Sean Cabrera, played by Cliff Curtis (see "'Walking Dead' Spinoff has Male Lead"). 

Dickens had a major role in HBO’S Treme, and smaller ones in Sons of Anarchy, Deadwood, and Lost. 

The new series will be set in Los Angeles, in a period shortly after the beginning of the zombie apocalypse.  Shooting begins next month (see "'Walking Dead' Spin-Off Details").