According to The Hollywood Reporter, the long lawsuit of The Walking Dead may have finally reached its conclusion. On Tuesday, AMC Global Media said that it had settled the lawsuit brought by series creator Robert Kirkman (Invincible, Talking Dead) and the show’s other producers, including Glen Mazzara (The Overlook Hotel, Hancock 2), David Alpert (Renfield, American Ultra), Charles Eglee (Murder One, Deadly Eyes) and Gale Anne Hurd (Terminator Salvation, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines).
As per The Hollywood Reporter, the lawsuit, which was filed in 2022, was about the profit participation rights for the original Walking Dead series and its first spinoff series, Fear the Walking Dead. AMC has settled by paying $120 million to resolve the lawsuit, including $85 million this month, with another $35 million next year.
The Hollywood Reporter reports The Walking Dead series and franchise have been the most successful franchise for AMC, and they have been battling lawsuits for the series since 2013. In 2013, Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) and CAA filed a profits suit against the series. Darabont and CAA’s suit was settled in 2021 for $200 million, but this lawsuit started the current lawsuit that is now being resolved. At issue in the suit is how the company calculates and collects profits for the franchise.
“Robert Kirkman, Robert Kirkman, Inc., Gale Anne Hurd, Valhalla Entertainment, Inc., David Alpert, Circle of Confusion Productions LLC, New Circle of Confusion Productions, Inc., Charles Eglee, United Bongo Drum, Inc., Glen Mazzara and 44 Strong Productions, Inc., on the one hand, and AMC Global Media, on the other hand, are pleased to announce the amicable resolution of all their remaining claims and litigation related to The Walking Dead television franchise,” the two sides said in a statement Tuesday. “The parties look forward to sharing in the continued success of the franchise for many years to come.”
The Walking Dead is available to stream on Netflix.