AMC’sThe Walking Deadis certainly one of the most popular shows on television, and in previous years served as a miracle of sorts, consistently scoring as the highest rated drama on TV despite the fact that it was on pay cable. But beginning with Season 7, the premiere of which concluded the “Who Will Negan Kill?” cliffhanger of Season 6, the ratings began slipping…hard. The tumble continued into Season 8, which pulled in the lowest ratings of the show since its second season, but something of a reset is in store for fans with the upcoming Season 9—and AMC has no plans to stop this train anytime soon.
As Colliderexclusively reported earlier this year,Andrew Lincoln—the lead ofThe Walking Dead—is exiting the series within the first few episodes of Season 9.Lauren Cohan’s Maggie is expected to be leaving as well, and Season 9 marks the beginning of the show under new showrunnerAngela Kang. When it was announced that Kang would be taking over, it was revealed thatScott Gimple—who served as showrunner since the middle of Season 3—would not be leaving the series altogether, but would now be overseeing“The Walking Deaduniverse.”
Indeed, it appears that AMC has big, big plans, as AMC Networks CEOJosh Sapanrevealed during the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference (viaTHR) that the network aims to continueThe Walking Deadin some form or another for at least 10 more years:
“The Walking Deadis a universe…and we have a plan to manage over the next decade, plus. That plan is a careful plan to respect the world of the fans of that world,” he argued, as Sapan pointed toFear of the Walking Deadas an extension ofThe Walking Deadfranchise.
Fear the Walking Deadwent through its own creative reset this past season, which saw the exit of series regularsKim DickensandFrank Dillane. The show’s other original lead,Cliff Curtis, left the series during the previous season, but all three of these performers expressed some form of dismay at being forced off the series. The show is essentially brand new now, withAlycia Debnam-Careyas the only existing member of the original cast.
It remains to be seen if yet anotherWalking Deadspinoff is in the works, but given Gimple’s new title and the desire for the franchise to live on through 2028, one imagines an entirely new kind of story will have to be told. Or perhapsThe Walking Deadwill just keep moving forward season after season, introducing and killing off characters with the whimsy and weight of a daytime soap opera.
Regardless, don’t expectThe Walking Deadto go anywhere anytime soon, despite the dwindling ratings.
