Television has changed exponentially over the course of the past two decades but The Walking Dead franchise has been one of the few constants. When the original series began in 2010, broadcast was still thriving, cable was still a dominant source of prestige television, and TV as a genre had much more variety. Now, streaming is dominating everything and, even though broadcast and cable have reshaped their content distribution to ensure that it enjoys a very successful streaming afterlife, far less people watch TV on the night anymore.
And yet, through it all, the TWD Universe has amassed a larger-than-life fanbase that still actively consumes its content on an annual basis (and all-year round on streaming), entertaining them in today's day and age with spinoffs and sequels focused on major characters from the OG series. And yet, despite its continued success, a new update from the man behind it all is somewhat disconcerting for the future of one series - and, therefore, the future of the franchise.
Dead City still hasn't been renewed for season 4 yet (and it's unclear if it will be)
The Walking Dead: Dead City season 4 has still not been greenlit by AMC as of yet. Despite the immense success that the third season enjoyed, actively rebooting the story and earning positive reviews as a result of that, it remains unclear if it will return for another outing. This update comes from AMC's Chief Content Officer Of The Walking Dead Universe, Scott M. Gimple, who revealed that the spinoff's future still isn't certain - despite a strong performance.
Speaking to The Direct, the TWD boss revealed that the show has not been renewed as of yet but that he thinks it has "a good shot" at it due to its performance. However, he did add a bit of a caveat that has fans a little uncertain, finishing off the thought with "but it is a different time."
"I would hope for everyone to hold out hope, because it's performing well in the numbers, and people are digging it. So, I think it's got a good shot at it, but it is a different time"
The "different time" comment is a little disconcerting as Gimple has pointed this out multiple times before when talking about the Walking Dead franchise's future. It's all very true, especially considering how the TV landscape has changed so significantly in recent years, but there are some Walking Dead fans who are worried that this might be an acknowledgement that there is a chance that Dead City might not get renewed - something that it felt like was once never in question.
The uncertainty continued in the TWD boss' subsequent comments, as he reflected on how ratings used to be the most important deciding factor in a show's renewal chances (and how he could ultimately predict The Walking Dead's lifespan based on that), but it's not like that anymore, as he commented:
"The metrics are not as cut-and-dried, and the economics are very different. So, we'll see what happens. But the greater story of 'The Walking Dead' absolutely is going to go on."
This also reiterates a statement that both Gimple and AMC Studios President Dan McDermott have said in recent months about the future of the Walking Dead franchise, once again confirming that there are plans for the overarching story to continue. But this is the first time those words were said in this context, as it suggests that there is a possibility that the overarching story could go on - with or without Dead City.
That's quite surprising considering that, at the moment, Dead City feels like the immediate future of the franchise. One of the three newer TWD Universe spinoffs, it made its presence felt alongside Daryl Dixon and The Ones Who Live across 2023 and 2024, as the sequel shows added new layers to the overarching franchise story. However, with The Ones Who Live wrapping up after just one season (it was a miniseries) and Daryl Dixon concluding next year with its fourth and final season, that just leaves Dead City as the only current TWD show on the air.
The third season of Dead City really disconnected the show from its heavy history within the Walking Dead franchise, allowing both Maggie Rhee and Negan to move forward in a story that actually added more story potential onto the spinoff. In its current iteration, it could run for another few seasons, so it would be extremely disappointing if it was cancelled before it even had the chance to deliver a final season. Considering that Daryl Dixon got that opportunity, it's only fair that Dead City get it too.
All that being said, there is still a pretty strong chance that Dead City will get renewed for a fourth season; it's the quickest way to ensure that the TWD Universe saga continues for at least another year or two and it clearly performed well for AMC and AMC+. But it goes without saying that fans have noticed a more cautious approach from the-powers-that-be when it comes to the future of the franchise, with fears that Dead City may not be a part of that. Here's hoping that is not the case.
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