The Walking Dead universe began with a comic story created by Robert Kirkman with artists Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. The first issue was released in 2003, and the last in 2019. By 2009, AMC Networks obtained the rights to produce a series based on the comic story. The Walking Dead premiered on AMC on October 31, 2010.
The series began with showrunner Frank Darabont during season 1 and he was replaced by Glen Mazzara for seasons 2 and 3. Beginning in season 4, current TWD Chief Content Officer Scott M. Gimple took over until season 9, when Angela Kang would serve as showrunner until the last season.
Throughout the series showrunners took liberties to alter many storylines featured in the comic, as well as create new characters, such as fan favorite Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus).
The final episode of The Walking Dead, "Rest in Peace," aired on AMC and AMC+ on November 20, 2022. The final season consisted of 24 episodes, released in three parts and rounded out the series, paying homage to previous seasons and characters who died throughout the story. The last scene of the finale surprised fans with the return of Rick and Michonne, characters who left the series in seasons 9 and 10, respectively.
In 2011, Netflix and AMC struck a deal that gave the streamer exclusive rights to several AMC original series, including The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, and Mad Men, which was removed in 2020. The current deal will keep The Walking Dead on the streamer until 2027 but could always be extended before that time.
Fans of the long-running series were devastated by the news that the series would end with season 11. Luckily, AMC has a long list of spinoffs within TWDU for your viewing pleasure.
- Fear the Walking Dead - 8 seasons
- The Walking Dead: World Beyond - limited series, 2 seasons
- Tales of the Walking Dead - 1 season, possibility of more to come.
- The Walking Dead: Dead City - 1 season, with season 2 expected in 2025
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon - 1 season, with season 2 released in 2024, and renewed for seasons 3 and 4
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live - limited series, 1 season
The first three spinoffs introduce new characters and new stories set all over the United States. The three newest series are direct spinoffs which continue to the stories of familiar characters introduced in the main series.
