A Walking Dead Spin-Off Has Suddenly Been Canceled, More To Come?
Fear the Walking Dead will end this year after 8 seasons on the air, wrapping up the final season in two parts, starting in May.
After over a decade of dominating cable television, The Walking Dead finally ended last year, and while the show has spawned more spin-offs, 2023 brings the end of the original spin-off, Fear the Walking Dead. The Hollywood Reporter details a statement from AMC Networks entertainment president Dan McDermott which revealed the news, saying “It’s a truly exciting year for The Walking Dead Universe, as we conclude an epic journey on Fear the Walking Dead, which became one of the most successful shows in the history of cable television.”
The final season of Fear the Walking Dead will arrive in two parts, six episodes starting to air on May 14th, followed by a second set of six later this year. With no information on what season 8 will cover, it can be assumed that the series’ American nuclear wasteland vibe from season 7 will be carried over. As good as the news is that the original zombie spin-off gets to finish its story, the reality is that the show has dropped dramatically from the highs of season 1, going from over 10 million viewers to just over 1 million with the season 7 premiere.
The first season of Fear the Walking Dead followed a family in Los Angeles, played by Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane, and Alycia Debnam-Carey, with only Debnam-Carey remaining through the following six seasons, one of the originals did make a shocking return last season, but they weren’t consistently part of the main cast. Since then, the story has gone to Mexico, back up through Texas, and into Louisiana, while also picking up Morgan (Lennie James) and Dwight (Austin Amelio) from the main show as cast members. So far, no surprise returns have been announced for the final season, and thankfully, no more spin-offs have been announced.
Despite rumors of impending cancellations for the three spin-offs currently in development, McDermott was upbeat in his statement to the press, saying in regards tot eh future of the franchise, “This next phase of our beloved Walking Dead franchise promises to engage and enthrall faithful viewers. Fans new and old will love seeing zombies walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, beneath the Eiffel Tower, inside the Louvre, and at dozens more exotic and iconic locations from around the country and world.” Fear the Walking Dead was given plenty of chances to regain its footing, which it did with season 6 being better received by fans compared to seasons 4 and 5, but it also was released eight years ago, and shows today are not given a long runway to prove themselves before getting axed.
The locations mentioned by McDermott reference the forthcoming Dead City, continuing the story of Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Maggie (Lauren Cohen) on the island of Manhattan, while the references to France deal with Daryl Dixon, starring Norman Reedus as the fan-favorite character finds himself in France. Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) also have their own spin-off, but it’s been delayed and may not be out this year. With the passing of The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead, two shows have died with three more rising up to take their place, ensuring that for now, the zombie franchise will keep shambling, more numerous than ever before.
