AMC's legendary Walking Dead franchise is preparing for its big comeback this summer, but that alone is a reminder of one of the fans' biggest concerns: What comes after? The Walking Dead: Dead City is set to grace screens this July for its third season, which promises a very different kind of adventure for Maggie and Negan in Manhattan. After that, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 4 catches us up with Daryl and Carol in Spain in what will be the final season of their spinoff.
After nearly a year-long hiatus, the TWD Universe is almost back for 16 more gripping adventures across these two spinoffs - which is a real throwback to the good old days of when the original series would air that same amount of episodes. The question is: Is this nostalgic throwback the beginning of the end for the franchise? It's possible for sure, but regardless of what the long-term future of the franchise looks like, it could mark the end of a 17-year streak.
There are no confirmed TWD projects in development for 2027
As things currently stand, there are no officially confirmed TWD Universe projects on the cards for next year, meaning that 2027 could be the first year since 2009 that there will be no Walking Dead shows airing new episodes. And that's pretty darn shocking on all fronts.
Of the two spinoffs still currently on the air, it's Daryl Dixon that has managed to maintain an annual release strategy, which means that - if it wasn't ending this year - it would have returned for a potential fifth installment next fall. However, the upcoming fourth season will indeed be its last, and AMC has confirmed that it is coming to screens this fall - completing its four-year annual streak. And, in doing so, potentially ending the whole franchise's 17-year annual streak.
Now, this could all change if Dead City gets a renewal in the next few months, but as the series' third season has yet to air, AMC may not make any announcement about its future until after it finishes its run - which would make the likelihood of a potential fourth season coming out in 2027 lower than it should be (after all, Dead City's run has been less annual, with a two-year gap between the first two seasons). And, furthermore, a number of industry insiders have claimed that the third season is expected to be its last - which has fans understandably unsettled about the future of the TWD Universe.
As for the potential of new TWD Universe spinoffs, it's unlikely that any of those would make it to screen before the end of 2027. The short-form spinoff More Tales From The Walking Dead Universe has been in development limbo for three years (with fans believing that AMC quietly cancelled it when the newer spinoffs took form) and, even though AMC's Chief Content Officer of The Walking Dead Universe, Scott M. Gimple, has hopes to make that long-awaited reunion offshoot, the logistics of that one would probably make impossible to produce before 2027 ends.
San Diego Comic-Con could be the moment that changes everything
There is one major event that could turn this all around for the TWD Universe: San Diego Comic-Con. Scott Gimple and other AMC creatives usually attend the annual event for a Hall H panel to tease the upcoming projects from the world of The Walking Dead. As there are at least still two of those on the horizon, it's fair to assume that they will probably return to SDCC this year.
Comic-Con takes place the week before Dead City season 3 premieres on AMC and AMC+, so it would make complete sense for Gimple to promote that alongside stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohan. Similarly, with the fourth and final season of Daryl Dixon also on the horizon, it is expected that Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride would attend to. This is, after all, the event in which AMC announced that shows' impending conclusion last year; it's only fair that they get to promote said final season this year.
With the franchise having no immediate confirmed future beyond this year, perhaps those involved with it might take the opportunity to officially confirm what's coming next. This would be the right place to confirm Dead City's fate - hopefully renewing it for a fourth season and preserving the TWD Universe's 17-year streak for another year. If it does land the early renewal, production could have a similar timeline to the third season's (September - December), allowing for a 2027 premiere after all.
Perhaps Gimple might also take a moment to announce the future of Rick Grimes, the plans for the franchise beyond Daryl Dixon season 4, the rumors of the crossover series, or maybe even a new spinoff altogether. We can dream, we can hope, we can wait; we just hope that there is more TWD to come in 2027 - and beyond.
The Walking Dead first premiered in October 2010 and it aired new episodes in every single year until its conclusion in 2022 - even managing to produce new episodes during the pandemic. It also spun off Fear The Walking Dead in 2015, which also managed to air new episodes each year until its conclusion in 2023, two-season miniseries World Beyond, and anthology series Tales of the Walking Dead. When the OG show ended, Fear's final season kicked off 2023 before the first seasons of Dead City and Daryl Dixon finished out the year. Miniseries The Ones Who Live started 2024 off on a high for the franchise before the other two shows returned with subsequent seasons. Let's hope that we can add more shows to list in the near-future.
The Walking Dead: Dead City season 3 premieres on July 26, 2026, while The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 4 premieres in fall 2026.
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