The Walking Dead is an AMC television adaptation from showrunner Angela Kang pulled from the pages of the hit Image comic series by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. The series stars Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Danai Gurira, Khary Paton, Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chandler Riggs and Melissa McBride. Season eight returns February 25, 2018.
Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman, this gritty drama portrays life in the weeks and months following a zombie apocalypse. Led by police officer Rick Grimes, his family and a group of other survivors find themselves constantly on the move in search of a safe and secure home. But the pressure each day to stay alive sends many in the group to the deepest depths of human cruelty, and Rick discovers that the overwhelming fear of the survivors can be more deadly than the zombies walking among them.
The Walking Dead has announced that it has been renewed for a ninth season (set to debut October, 2018) and also that current showrunner Scott Gimple has been promoted to Chief Content Officer, overseeing ALL THINGS WALKING DEAD. Replacing him as the TWD showrunner will be writer Angela Kang, who has worked on the show since 2011. Gimple has been the longest-standing showrunner on the series to date, stepping in after Frank Darabont and Glen Mazzara both departed under “not-so-nice” circumstances and disagreements with AMC. In fact both Darabont and Mazzara are both actively suing AMC for unpaid profits.
“I am beyond thrilled to be stepping into this new role with ‘The Walking Dead.’ Working on this series and having the opportunity to adapt Robert Kirkman’s amazing comic has been a fangirl dream come true for me,” said Angela Kang in the AMC press release. “I’m excited to continue working with Scott and the wonderfully supportive folks at AMC, and can’t wait to share the next chapter of the story with our fans next fall.”
WARNING – MAJOR SPOILER ALERT – DON’T READ BELOW IF NOT UP TO DATE ON EPISODES
It probably means nothing, but it is important to point out that The Walking Dead has gotten a new showrunner every time the TV adaptation has drastically departed from the source material. Whether that’s a coincidence or not, it’s happened. Darabont left mid-way through season 2 after the shocking Sophia is a zombie revelation (that didn’t happen in the books, in fact that character is still alive after 170+ issues). Mazzara left after season three, in the wake of Andrea’s death. (that also didn’t happen – as she lived WAAAAAAAAAAAAY longer in the comics and formed a romantic relationship with Rick — in the show that void has been filled by Michonne). Now — Carl has recently been revealed to be leaving the series after being bitten by a walker in the season 8 mid-season finale. (In the comics, Carl is very much still alive and has been an essential character in several major storylines that have yet to be adapted). And now — Gimple is announced that he’s leaving the show.
Sophia – Darabont. Andrea – Mazzara. Carl – Gimple.
Now… I realise that Gimple hasn’t left, he was actually promoted… But — by being promoted, he’s also stepping away from writing and overseeing the finer details of writing episodes for The Walking Dead. It’s all likely coincidental, but it is odd to see the pattern here isnt it?