The yet-to-be-titled Walking Dead spinoff has cast its lead male: Cliff Curtis.

The actor, who’s had roles in shows like Gang Related and Missing and movies like Training Day and The Last Airbender, will play a divorced teacher. The character is described as “a good man who tries to do right by everyone in his life.”

Curtis will star opposite a female lead, in the role of a guidance counselor, who is yet to be cast.

Earlier this week we learned that The Walking Dead spinoff has cast Frank Dillane and Alycia Debram Carey in the roles of the guidance’s counselors children.

The spinoff, whose working title is “Cobalt,” is expected to start shooting within the next couple of months. With casting starting to come together this week, we expect that the show is gearing up to begin filming in the very near future (though the upcoming holiday will likely push the start of filming into the new year).

At this time we don’t know much about The Walking Dead spinoff other than the aforementioned details about a couple of the characters. What we also know is that the show won’t be taking place in or around Atlanta, Georgia, where the original show is set.

Cliff Curtis has an important role on his hands because AMC is hoping the Walking Dead spinoff can become a big hit. The last few years for AMC have been met with several programming strikeouts, so a spinoff to one of the most popular shows on television may be their best bet.

We expect news about that guidance counselor role to arrive soon.

Related: Walking Dead showrunner explains why [spoiler] had to die