The Walking Dead's devoted fanbase has been through a lot over the years. After all, the TWD Universe franchise has been around for a decade and a half; its audience is going to have experienced plenty of highs and lows with it. And even now, three years on from the mothership show's conclusion, the emotional rollercoaster of being a TWD fan continues.
The story of this saga lives on through current spinoffs Daryl Dixon and Dead City - both of which feature beloved characters from The Walking Dead. Both spinoffs are expected to return for their next seasons this year too - or at least they were until a new announcement from AMC may have just unveiled a disappointing truth. And, understandably, fans aren't happy about it.
Walking Dead fans react to Dead City season 3's potential delay
It's currently unclear when The Walking Dead: Dead City season 3 will premiere. Although it was on track for a 2026 release (and still might be), its omission in a recent AMC announcement about this year's upcoming titles has left fans confused and upset.
The cable network recently revealed its fourth-quarter earnings report, which also previews some of the titles that audiences can look forward to seeing in 2026. While fellow TWD series Daryl Dixon season 4 was listed among the other shows, Dead City was not. Naturally, fans are starting to panic that the series - which already has a reputation for two-years waits between seasons - may not return for its third season until 2027.
One fan was deeply upset by this, saying that it would be "horrible" treatment of the show while arguing that AMC shouldn't risk sidelining Dead City for Daryl Dixon - likely because the latter will be ending with season 4 while Dead City could very well continue on for another season beyond that. Another pointed out the growing trend in Hollywood that results in multi-year gaps between seasons of TV shows, arguing that it's "killing" shows. The thought of a lengthy delay makes one fan's heart sink a little, while another understandably begged the network not to allow this to happen.
Other fans were quick to point out what potentially delaying Dead City to 2027 could mean for the franchise. One argument presented was that the show should end with season 3 in order to make way for another TWD series to carry on the franchise's story, with a fan saying that the TWD Universe couldn't survive with it being the only annual series for the next few years. And another even worried about the show's own future, pointing towards how AMC cancelled two TV shows (61st Street season 2 and Invitation to a Bonfire) that were already filmed.
Could Dead City season 3 realistically be delayed to 2027?
Dead City is a bit of a mystery when it comes to releases. This is a show that had a lengthy two-year gap between its first and second seasons so, realistically, yes it could do the same again here. However, there is one major difference this time around: That delay was down to filming, which didn't take place until nearly a year after season 1 premiered on TV screens. Conversely, Season 3 has already been filmed - meaning that it should by all rights make its presence felt on both AMC and AMC+ this year.
Of course, any potential delay might work in AMC's favor. The Walking Dead franchise continues to be a lucrative investment for the cable network and its streaming platform and, with Daryl Dixon ending this year, the future of the TWD Universe is in question. We know that there will be more to come from the franchise, we just don't know when. Holding Dead City season 3 until 2027 would delay any potential confirmations about what's next for the TWD Universe for a bit longer, giving the creative teams involved a more significant chance to figure out the next chapter.
Of course, the fact that post-production is currently taking place would rule any kind of delay out. Earlier this year, Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan reunited in Central Park to film an important scene for the third season - one which features a major character! Furthermore, Aimee Garcia, who joins the cast this season as new character Renata, just recently confirmed she is doing ADR for the new episodes. So, as we initially expected before this update raised some eyebrows, it seems that all would indicate a 2026 release is still on the cards.
AMC has yet to officially announce when Dead City season 3 will premiere but there will undoubtedly be more to come this year. With Daryl Dixon season 4 already confirmed for a release at some point this year, and the franchise creatives likely already planning another San Diego Comic-Con appearance for the summer, it wouldn't be surprising to see some major TWD updates in 2026. We just hope that the Dead City season 3 release window is one of them.