A Surprising Walking Dead Update Is Great News For Maggie & Negan's Spinoff

The Walking Dead: Dead City has officially been renewed for a third season, but Maggie and Negan's spinoff just got even better thanks to a major update regarding the project. After Dead City season 2's eventful ending, it looked inevitable that the series would be back for another installment; it was just a matter of when.

No release date has been confirmed, but the show's return has been greenlit, meaning Maggie and Negan's New York adventure will have at least one more chapter. There were already several major story teases for Dead City season 3 set up in the recent finale, meaning the plot will presumably pick up exactly where it left off.

While some fans may be worried this could make things feel a little predictable and somewhat stale, I'm confident this isn't the case thanks to one key detail. Alongside the confirmation of a third season, The Walking Dead announced that Seth Hoffman would be returning to the franchise as Dead City's showrunner, which is massive news for the series.

Seth Hoffman's Walking Dead Return Makes Dead City Season 3 Even More Exciting

Hoffman's Experience Could Make Season 3 Dead City's Best Outing Yet

Having been part of The Walking Dead during some of its best years, Hoffman left the franchise as a producer and writer after season 6 but is finally making his return as part of Dead City. Although the project has managed to succeed so far, there is no denying Hoffman's addition makes the spinoff's third season even stronger.

He's got plenty of experience when it comes to the zombie franchise and is a Walking Dead veteran, making him the perfect fit to take over such an important role. His history suggests that he knows the characters well and will do Maggie and Negan justice while injecting some much-needed fresh life into their ongoing story.

In addition, he will hopefully attract some exciting new names to Dead City season 3's cast, helping introduce some fresh survivors to the spinoff. As a result, Hoffman's return provides plenty of reasons to be excited for long-term fans of The Walking Dead, and his vast experience with the series indicates that the project is in safe hands.

Hoffman Is Responsible For Some Of The Walking Dead's Best Episodes

He Wrote Classics Like "Too Far Gone" & "No Way Out"

Working on The Walking Dead during its most popular era doesn't instantly prove Hoffman will elevate Dead City, but his resume is hard not to be impressed by. He wrote some of The Walking Dead's best episodes, including "Too Far Gone", "No Way Out", "JSS", "Conquer", and "Not Tomorrow Yet", all of which received tremendous reviews.

Even some of his less iconic episodes, like "Claimed", "The Distance", and "Us" are still of an extremely high standard, proving Hoffman is an extremely talented writer. Being put in the position of showrunner does present more challenges, but if he decides to write the majority of season 3, his past work fills me with confidence.

"Too Far Gone" is a perfect example of how well he can capture The Walking Dead's explosive action, while "Too Far Gone" illustrates Hoffman's ability to create tension alongside expert dialogue. There are also countless great character moments throughout his episodes, meaning he will hopefully tap into the elements that make Maggie and Negan such compelling survivors.

The fact that he was a producer on every episode throughout seasons 4-6 - arguably the franchise's most successful period - only continues to paint him in a good light, and assuming he can replicate this magic with Dead City season 3, there is no reason not to have faith in Hoffman based on his impressive track record.

Dead City Season 3 Needs A Major Refresh Despite 2 Solid Seasons

The Spinoff Has Become The Walking Dead's Most Divisive Project Following The Main Show's Ending

In terms of quality, Dead City has held up relatively well over the course of its two seasons, getting more positive than negative reviews from critics. However, the audience seems much more divided. While the show boasts a more modest score on IMDb, the public gave both seasons a Rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting it is far from perfect.

The overall reception to Dead City has remained fairly mixed throughout its entire run, with some people believing it is the best Walking Dead spinoff, while others feel it leaves a lot to be desired. Maggie and Negan's dynamic has also run its course and needs a change, something Hoffman can hopefully provide.

His innovative ideas could be a breath of fresh air for the series and make the spinoff improve upon The Walking Dead's main show in some areas, helping it achieve its full potential. Of course, the story can't deviate too much given how much set-up is already there for season 3, but Hoffman's creativity should take it in a new direction.

Considering how conflicted fans are about the project, bringing back a veteran who understands what they want may allow Dead City to appeal to a wider audience and potentially capture older viewers who may not have liked the initial look of the series.

Will The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3 Be The Last?

The Story Seems To Be Nearing Its Conclusion, But Hoffman's Addition Means Dead City Could Continue

Despite New Babylon taking over Manhattan, it feels like Dead City's story is nearing its conclusion, suggesting season 3 could be the last. Maggie and Negan's dynamic has been going on for a long time and has become relatively tiring, meaning one final team-up feels like the best way to wrap up their arc.

Dead City season 2 essentially ended Maggie and Negan's feud, making it hard to see this ongoing journey continuing past a third season. That said, recruiting Hoffman for a single project would feel strange, and unless The Walking Dead plans on using him for more shows, Dead City season 4 remains a possibility.

It's unclear if the franchise is committed to spinoffs for the foreseeable future or if they plan on making a crossover soon, but this could also determine the plans for Dead City's future, making it almost impossible to predict when exactly the series will end.