The Walking Dead's Epic Evolution: How It Surpasses Its 3-Year Plan
The Walking Dead has successfully executed its original plans for its 10th anniversary by utilizing spinoffs, resulting in the show running year-round
Summary
The Walking Dead franchise has achieved its goal of airing new episodes all year round thanks to multiple spinoff series and new releases in 2023 and 2024.
The original series of The Walking Dead experienced a decline in viewership during recent seasons. However, the brand's popularity and recognition in the era of franchises and cinematic universes continue to hold significant value.
The most recent spinoff, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, has achieved the distinction of being the first certified fresh Walking Dead spinoff on Rotten Tomatoes in five years. Moreover, the return of Fear the Walking Dead is imminent, and there are plans for another spinoff centered around Rick Grimes. It is evident that the franchise shows no indications of slowing down.
The Walking Dead has achieved its goal of running all year round thanks to its recent spinoffs. The original TV series, based on the graphic novels by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore, premiered in 2010 and concluded in 2022 after 11 seasons and 177 episodes. However, the franchise's presence on television and streaming did not end with the series finale. In 2015, AMC premiered Fear the Walking Dead, which is now in its eighth season and features both new and returning characters from The Walking Dead. Additionally, The Walking Dead: World Beyond aired for two seasons, followed by the anthology series Tales of the Walking Dead in 2022. This year, two more spinoff series focusing on beloved characters from the main show began airing, allowing the franchise to reach an impressive milestone in 2023.
The Walking Dead's Original Plans For 10th Anniversary That Didn't Happen
The Walking Dead premiered in 2010 with an average of five million viewers per episode. By its third season, the viewership had skyrocketed to an astonishing 12 million. The fifth-season premiere broke records with 17.3 million viewers, becoming the most-watched episode in cable history. It's clear that The Walking Dead had a strong following. However, in recent years, the main series has struggled to maintain viewership, with the last two seasons barely reaching two million viewers per episode. Despite this decline, The Walking Dead's brand remains valuable in the era of franchises and cinematic universes.
Originally, AMC had ambitious plans to celebrate the TV franchise's 10th anniversary in 2020. They intended to have some form of The Walking Dead airing new episodes throughout the year. Unfortunately, due to various circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, these plans fell through. The companion series Fear the Walking Dead also experienced a decline in viewership, similar to the original series. However, a new season is scheduled to premiere in late 2023. Just like the relentless zombies in the post-apocalyptic world, The Walking Dead refuses to fade away.
The Walking Dead Is Now Running All Year Round
AMC's plan for year-round content in The Walking Dead franchise was delayed in 2020, but it is now fully in motion for the 2023-2024 television season. The latest addition to the franchise is The Walking Dead: Dead City, a spinoff that follows Maggie Greene and Negan as they travel through the post-apocalyptic streets of Manhattan to rescue Maggie's son. Another spinoff, titled The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, premiered in the fall season, giving fans the long-awaited Daryl-centric storyline set in Paris and led by Norman Reedus.
The Walking Dead franchise continues to captivate audiences with its upcoming winter season in 2023-2024. Following this, fans can anticipate another new spinoff series, "The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live," which is set to premiere in late February 2024. This exciting addition focuses on the beloved characters, Rick Grimes (portrayed by Andrew) and Michonne (played by Danai Gurira), exploring their journey together. Although details about the show are limited, numerous intriguing theories have emerged regarding Rick Grimes' future in the Walking Dead universe. In essence, viewers can expect a consistently thrilling series, as new episodes from The Walking Dead franchise are constantly airing throughout the year, providing an engrossing experience for fans.
