With the way things are going, AMC’s The Walking Dead is about to outlive us all.
Currently on the verge of its ninth season, the hit zombie drama has undoubtedly grown into a lucrative flagship for the network, even spawning its own spinoff series (read: Fear The Walking Dead) in the process.
Next month’s batch of episodes is a crucial one, too, as it’ll signal the curtain call for both Rick Grimes and Maggie Rhee, two series stalwarts who have helped shape the tone and direction of The Walking Dead from the very beginning. It’s the end of an era, then, but according to AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan, there are still plenty more stories to tell within the TWD universe – ten years’ worth, in fact.
The Walking Dead is 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.
Former showrunner Scott Gimple, who handed over the reins to Angela King in time for The Walking Dead season 9, has previously waxed lyrical about the show’s longevity, claiming that the series is ostensibly endless because of the ways in which it can swap in new characters and effectively continue the saga.
That logic will be put to the test later this year, when The Walking Dead viewers will be forced to bid farewell to Rick Grimes and Maggie Rhee. The former’s departure will seemingly result in Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon) being elected as the show’s leading man, which is both immensely exciting and a little unnerving, as Daryl’s typically a man of few words.
Whatever the case, The Walking Dead season 9 reaches AMC on Sunday, October 7th. There’s only one question now – will you be tuning in?
