The Walking Dead is postponing its planned finale due to the coronavirus crisis. The crisis has interfered with the post-production work on Season 10.
The Walking Dead, based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The series depicts a group of survivors attempting t to stay alive during the zombie apocalypse. The series first premiered in 2010 and has been nominated for several awards including a Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama.
In a statement to TVLine, an AMC rep noted, “Current events have made it impossible to complete post-production of The Walking Dead Season 10 finale… The current season will end with its 15th episode on April 5. The planned finale will appear as a special episode later in the year.”
The delays are most likely a result of the state-level lockdowns that have been sweeping the nation over the past two weeks. In California, for example, millions have been ordered to self-quarantine and avoid leaving their homes for functions deemed non-essential by the state. Violators are subject to heavy fines and even jail time.
AMC has also delayed the release of the new spinoff series Walking Dead: World Beyond, which was originally set to premiere after the Season 10 finale. The series is to consist of only two ten-episode seasons and will feature two female protagonists in Nebraska a decade after the apocalypse.
Season 11 of The Walking Dead is also predicted to be delayed from its usual October release. The series was renewed for its eleventh season last October. It is currently unknown when the series will resume production.