THE WALKING DEAD Has Been Officially Renewed For Season 9, But Scott Gimple Is Out As Showrunner
Despite declining ratings, AMC has officially renewed The Walking Dead for another season - but Scott M. Gimple will be replaced as showrunner by long-time series writer Angela Kang. More past the jump...
The Walking Dead has seen a massive decline in ratings recently, but it still shouldn't come as much of a surprise that AMC has renewed the zombie survival drama for another season.
However, when the show does return, Scott Gimple won't be calling the shots.
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The press release below reveals that Gimple will now take the role of Chief Content Officer, with writer/co-exec producer Angela Kang stepping in as showrunner.
Gimple was never exactly what you'd call a fan-favorite, but the recent decision to kill off Carl Grimes was the last straw for many long-time viewers, who publicly called for his replacement as showrunner. Whether that has anything to do with this change is unclear, but hopefully the show will get back on track as a result.
Check out some quotes from Gimple and Kang in the full press release below, and let us know what you think of this development in the usual place.
NEW YORK, NY – January 13, 2018 – AMC today made a number of announcements related to “The Walking Dead,” the highest-rated cable series in history and the #1 show on television for the last six seasons and counting. The series is being renewed for a ninth season, to premiere in late 2018; current showrunner Scott M. Gimple is being elevated to Chief Content Officer, overseeing the entire “Dead” television universe, including “The Walking Dead,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” and potential brand extensions on a variety of platforms; and Angela Kang, who has been a writer on the show since 2011 and co-executive producer since 2013, is being promoted by Gimple to executive producer and showrunner of “The Walking Dead,” starting with season nine.
“This is an enormously important day for the entire ‘The Walking Dead’ television universe. We are proud to acknowledge Angela’s significant contribution to the series and to set a clear path forward for a ninth season under her direction. Further, with gratitude and admiration, we also recognize Scott’s broad impact on, and leadership of, the content that fuels our TWD universe. Together, we will dream bigger and more broadly than ever before,” said Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios. “I know I speak for Angela, Scott and everyone at AMC when I say thanks most of all to the fans and the many talented people who have helped AMC play ‘Dead.’”
“‘The Walking Dead’ is a special show which started in an entirely different era of TV, and continues, in this new era, to confidently take chances to tell compelling stories that excite audiences and make them deeply connect with its characters, adapting Robert Kirkman’s brilliant comic book,” Gimple said. “As the show closes in on its tenth year, I’m honored to keep working with the talented, dedicated people behind and in front of the camera to make it all it can be, while expanding the world of ‘The Walking Dead’ with new narratives like ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ and a whole host of truly cool stories ahead. Angela is a big part of the heart and soul of ‘The Walking Dead,’ and I’m thrilled to help facilitate her vision of the show’s next era.”
“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 Kang. “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.”