'Walking Dead' Gets Renewed with a New Showrunner
by EG
The Walking Dead just got renewed for a ninth season at AMC. That's not surprise, nor is the news that showrunner Scott GImple is leaving his position to oversee the whole TWD franchise, including Fear The Walking Dead. It looks like a promotion for Gimple, but considering that TWD saw a major ratings slide through the first half of this season, and that there has been consistent criticism about the quality of the series, there might be other reasons to take TWD out of Gimple's direct control.
The dead shall rise again for AMC.
The cable network has renewed The Walking Dead for a ninth season and signed now-former showrunner Scott M. Gimple to an overall deal in which he will now serve as chief content officer of the franchise.
In his new role, Gimple will oversee The Walking Dead's vast TV universe, including both the flagship and spinoff Fear the Walking Dead, as well as gaming and future brand extensions on a variety of platforms, among other areas. Writer/co-exec producer Angela Kang (pictured below) has been promoted to executive producer and showrunner, replacing Gimple in the latter role, of The Walking Dead. Kang has been with The Walking Dead since 2011, writing some 20 episodes of the show, including critically praised hours including "Coda" and "Still." Kang will take over as showrunner starting with season nine, which will premiere in late 2018.
"This is an enormously important day for the entire The Walking Dead television universe. We are proud to acknowledge Angela’s significant contribution to the series and to set a clear path forward for a ninth season under her direction. Further, with gratitude and admiration, we also recognize Scott’s broad impact on, and leadership of, the content that fuels our TWD universe. Together, we will dream bigger and more broadly than ever before,” said Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios. "I know I speak for Angela, Scott and everyone at AMC when I say thanks most of all to the fans and the many talented people who have helped AMC play Dead.”
Get the rest of the story at The Hollywood Reporter.
Do you think The Walking Dead is on the right track? Let us know in the comments below.