The Walking Dead producers and Robert Kirkman have finally settled their profit participation lawsuit. Kirkman and other producers are set to receive $120 million from AMC as part of the settlement.
Robert Kirkman and other Walking Dead producers to receive $120 million settlement from AMC
The lawsuit has finally been settled, with The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and producers Glen Mazzara, Charles Eglee, David Alpert, and Gale Anne Hurd receiving a $120 million settlement from AMC.
The lawsuit, filed in 2022, involved claims over profit participation from the original The Walking Dead series and its spinoff Fear the Walking Dead. The litigation also involved the aftershow Talking Dead, according to Page Six.
AMC agreed to pay $120 million to settle the lawsuit. The network will pay $85 million by September 18, 2026, with the remaining $35 million due by January 31, 2027, according to an SEC filing. The $35 million payment will also serve as an advance against future profit participation amounts under the parties’ contracts.
The Walking Dead lawsuit has been a long-running, high-profile case over profits. The dispute followed earlier litigation involving the franchise, including lawsuits brought by former showrunner Frank Darabont and CAA.
Darabont and CAA sued AMC in 2013. This was after he was fired early in the production of the second season. Darabont developed the first season based on Kirkman’s comic books. According to his lawsuit, he was wrongfully fired and was allegedly entitled to participate in profits from the second season. Darabont and CAA later pursued another lawsuit over profits.
AMC was also accused of “selling” the series to itself. Thus, leading to what the plaintiffs described as “the improper and abusive practice of self-dealing.”
Kirkman later led the group that sued AMC over its profit participation, alleging that the network’s supposed “self-dealing” resulted in the producers receiving less than they were owed.
AMC settled with Darabont and CAA in 2021 for $200 million, while the Kirkman lawsuit remained unresolved. The network has now agreed to pay a total of $320 million across the two settlements.
Recently, AMC renewed its deal with Netflix for $500 million. The five-year licensing agreement gives Netflix and AMC+ co-exclusive streaming rights to The Walking Dead Universe, including the original series and six spinoffs.
