For about a decade, the biggest things happening in the world of The Walking Dead were happening in a courtroom. At one point, AMC paid producer Frank Darabont $200 million over unpaid profits, and soon after, five other producers sued the network for the same reason. It took nine years, and many twists and turns, but now that lawsuit has finally been settled.
Variety reports that nine years after producers Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert, Charles Eglee, and Glen Mazzara first sued the network over unpaid profits, the parties have settled for $120 million, $85 million to be paid first, and the other $35 million by early 2027. A joint statement released by both sides said they “are pleased to announce the amicable resolution of all their remaining claims and litigation related to The Walking Dead television franchise” and that “the parties look forward to sharing in the continued success of the franchise for many years to come.”
And while that, at first, sounds like the last Walking Dead lawsuit out there, one filed in 2025 by producer Dave Erickson remains pending.
This all started back in 2016, when Darabont, one of the original creators of the show, sued the network for what he believed was a failure to pay him what he was owed from the show, which at the time he claimed was about $280 million. It took a while, but eventually, in 2021, he won and was awarded $200 million. As that lawsuit was happening, five other producers—the aforementioned Kirkman, Hurd, Alpert, Eglee, and Mazzara—collectively sued the network for the same thing. At first, they lost, but a few years later, they filed a new version based on the result of Darabont’s case. Now, multiple years later again, it’s been settled ahead of a potential October court date.
The settlement happened right under the wire. Another few weeks and the case would’ve gone to trial. It also comes as one Walking Dead show, Dead City, gets ready to end its third season, and another, Daryl Dixon, is gearing up for its final season. The franchise isn’t quite what it was at its peak, but it’s still alive and out there.
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