AMC Greenlights Third Series In 'The Walking Dead' Universe

[Outsiders]

AMC today announced that it has greenlit the third series in the expanding universe of The Walking Dead, an original drama co-created by Scott M. Gimple, chief content officer of The Walking Dead universe, and Matt Negrete, who has been a writer and producer on The Walking Dead for the past five seasons and will be showrunner of the new series. Produced and distributed by AMC Studios, the series will begin production on 10 episodes this summer in Virginia and premiere on AMC in 2020.

"We're thrilled that the Dead will keep walking into a new corner of the post-apocalyptic world, a corner that will present stories and characters unlike any that The Walking Dead has dramatized thus far, and that is bound to excite one of the most passionate fanbases in television," said David Madden, president of programming for AMC Networks and AMC Studios. "Scott has been an invaluable leader for the Universe since taking on the role of chief content officer, with a distinct and innovative vision for the franchise. Likewise, we're excited to have Matt, who has been a crucial part of The Walking Dead family for over five years and penned many memorable episodes of TWD, at the helm of this original series."

"On the heels of an incredible ninth season of The Walking Dead and as we approach an anticipated new season of Fear the Walking Dead on June 2, this is an exciting moment for the Dead franchise, which continues to thrive in a highly competitive environment," said Sarah Barnett, president of the entertainment networks group for AMC Networks. "We are thankful to be working with some of the best creatives in the business to expand this Universe in new and exciting ways for our fans."

"Showing audiences an unseen pocket of The Walking Dead Universe steeped in a new mythology is a very cool way to celebrate a 'Decade of the Dead' on TV and over fifteen years of Robert Kirkman's brilliant comic," said Gimple. "Matt Negrete is one of the best writer-producers in TWD's long history -- I'm thrilled to be working beside him to tell stories unlike we've seen before, taking our first step into an even larger world."

"I'm beyond excited to be a part of this new show set in The Walking Dead Universe," said Negrete. "Writing and producing for the original series has been the job of a lifetime and I'm honored to be working with Scott and all the fine Dead folks at AMC in this new capacity. I can't wait for the fans of the franchise to see what we've been cooking up!"

The third series in a franchise that includes the global hit series The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead will feature two young female protagonists and focus on the first generation to come-of-age in the apocalypse as we know it. Some will become heroes. Some will become villains. In the end, all of them will be changed forever. Grown-up and cemented in their identities, both good and bad.

Based on the comic book series written by Kirkman and published by Image Comics, The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead reign as the #1 and #4 cable dramas among adults 18-49 in Nielsen live+3 ratings, respectively. Both series take place in the months and years after a zombie apocalypse and follow different groups of survivors traveling in search of a safe and secure home.

[Belmont13]

I completely lost interest in the Walking Dead series, I haven't seen an episode since the season they introduced Negan. I haven't even checked out Fear the Walking Dead;  I guess this is good news for the fans but I'm just not interested anymore.

[elongatedman]

please no

[mako]

Much like the zombies around which these series' are built, they just keep coming back, a little uglier, and smelling a little bit worse each time.

[Satam]

15 minutes ago, mako said:

Much like the zombies around which these series' are built, they just keep coming back, a little uglier, and smelling a little bit worse each time.

Very well put.  Artful.

[omega_m]

I hope that the showrunners try to do something different with the narrative (e.g. different time setting) and let it be its own thing apart from the main series (TWD). I was really annoyed that I spent 4 seasons/years following Fear the Walking Dead's storyline (which honestly got very interesting in Season 3), only to have the new showrunners kick Kim Dickens off the series, do a major time jump, and turn FTWD into "The Morgan Show" during Season 4. Nothing against the actor; It's just aggravating that they couldn't have implemented a third series around Morgan instead of decimating FTWD's main story focus.

[mako]

9 hours ago, omega_m said:

I hope that the showrunners try to do something different with the narrative (e.g. different time setting) and let it be its own thing apart from the main series (TWD). I was really annoyed that I spent 4 seasons/years following Fear the Walking Dead's storyline (which honestly got very interesting in Season 3), only to have the new showrunners kick Kim Dickens off the series, do a major time jump, and turn FTWD into "The Morgan Show" during Season 4. Nothing against the actor; It's just aggravating that they couldn't have implemented a third series around Morgan instead of decimating FTWD's main story focus.

Granted, I've never been a fan of TWD, but I just don't see what they CAN do differently with the narrative. The zombie apocalypse is probably the most over-used cliche in all of horror.

Everything that's happened in TWD and FTWD has already occurred in every other zombie apocalypse movie, TV show, and comic ever produced. 

[RecklessEndangerment]

19 hours ago, omega_m said:

I hope that the showrunners try to do something different with the narrative (e.g. different time setting) and let it be its own thing apart from the main series (TWD). I was really annoyed that I spent 4 seasons/years following Fear the Walking Dead's storyline (which honestly got very interesting in Season 3), only to have the new showrunners kick Kim Dickens off the series, do a major time jump, and turn FTWD into "The Morgan Show" during Season 4. Nothing against the actor; It's just aggravating that they couldn't have implemented a third series around Morgan instead of decimating FTWD's main story focus.

I couldn't agree more.  I was sad with all of the changes that were made, especially after how strong season 3 was.  The way they swapped Kim Dickens out for Morgan was pretty badly handled and felt like a slap in the face after following it for three years.