Netflix has managed to not only avoid losing one of the most successful TV franchises but has also found a way to regain the rights to several of its beloved spinoffs!
After lengthy negotiations, AMC and Netflix have inked a new deal that will ensure that The Walking Dead franchise will continue to be available on Netflix for the next five years. Under the new deal, Netflix will retain the streaming rights to The Walking Dead through 2032, ensuring the show will not be leaving its catalog anytime soon. That alone is great news, but the new deal between AMC and Netflix will also see several beloved spinoffs making their way back to Netflix following their removals!
Under the new deal, Netflix also secured the streaming rights to the full Walking Dead franchise, which will mean The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and Tales of the Walking Dead will all be coming back to Netflix! The three series have been removed from the catalog over the last several months after their streaming deals expired, which has prevented Netflix subscribers from viewing the entire franchise. That will change in the coming months as Netflix begins re-adding the spinoffs to the catalog.
“Audiences have discovered and loved The Walking Dead on Netflix for nearly 15 years and the show continues to attract new fans,” said Lori Conkling, Vice President of Licensing at Netflix. “We’re excited to partner with AMC Global Media to continue to expand that access to more audiences around the world and bring the entirety of The Walking Dead Universe to Netflix.”
The exact return dates for the three spinoffs remain unclear and will be announced in the months ahead as licenses for each series begin on different dates. As those deals expire, Netflix will be able to re-add The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and Tales of the Walking Dead to its catalog.
And it's not just U.S. fans who will gain access to the spinoffs this time around! Under Netflix's massive $500 million deal, all 371 episodes of The Walking Dead AND its six spinoff series will be available to stream in the UK, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, and other new territories! This will include The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and Tales of the Walking Dead as well as Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, and The Walking Dead: Dead City.
But wait, there's more good news!
The Walking Dead will finally be available to stream on AMC+ in 2027
Not only will The Walking Dead franchise be sticking around on Netflix, but the flagship series that started it all will finally be coming to AMC’s official streaming platform for the first time ever! That’s right, despite being AMC’s most successful original series, The Walking Dead has never been available to stream on AMC+ but that will finally change in 2027.
Under the new agreement with Netflix, The Walking Dead will also become available on AMC+ with all 11 seasons of The Walking Dead coming to AMC+ starting next year.
“We are thrilled to expand our long-time partnership with Netflix around The Walking Dead,” said Kristin Dolan, CEO of AMC Global Media. “This deal creates a global destination for this universe – all shows, all episodes – making the franchise more accessible than ever to fans around the world. In addition, the co-exclusive agreement allows us to bring the original series to AMC+ for the first time early next year. Netflix has been an important partner in making The Walking Dead one of the most successful franchises in the history of entertainment. This agreement is a fantastic result for our companies, for the fans and for this timeless IP.”
It is not yet known when exactly The Walking Dead will drop on AMC+ as the official press release from AMC simply noted that the co-exclusive deal will allow for the show to begin streaming on AMC+ beginning next year. Considering Netflix’s original deal for The Walking Dead was set to expire in January, we imagine the show will be coming sometime in January 2027, with an exact release date expected to be announced later this year.
Needless to say, it's a major moment for AMC+ and will be a major draw for the in-house streaming platform! It's honestly like giving fans the best of both worlds, as Netflix users will be able to continue to enjoy The Walking Dead without signing up for a new platform, while AMC+ subscribers will finally gain access to one of the biggest properties in the AMC catalog!
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