AMC is getting really good at dicking around the showrunners of their most popular and creatively beloved shows. The network’s frequent headbutting with Mad Men creator/showrunner Matthew Weiner is no secret, and they edged out The Walking Dead creator/showrunner Frank Darabont halfway through the hit zombie series’ second season. Now, in a shocking move on the heels of a season four renewal, current The Walking Dead showrunner Glen Mazzara has announced that he’s leaving the show over a “difference of opinion” with the network. Hit the jump for more.
Here’s the full announcement from AMC and Mazzara:
Today, AMC announces the season 4 pick-up of The Walking Dead.
AMC also jointly announces with Glen Mazzara today that for future seasons, the two parties have mutually decided to part ways. Glen guided the series creatively for seasons 2 and 3. AMC is grateful for his hard work. We are both proud of our shared success.
Both parties acknowledge that there is a difference of opinion about where the show should go moving forward, and conclude that it is best to part ways. This decision is amicable and Glen will remain on for post-production on season 3B as showrunner and executive producer.
Frankly, this is surprising news. Since Mazzara took over the reins of the show from Darabont, the series has seen a crazy increase in viewership and critical acclaim. Not only is it breaking ratings for cable television, it’s regularly beating everything on network TV as well. Season three is generally considered the best installment of the show thus far, and a large part of that is thanks to Mazzara’s involvement as showrunner alongside comics creator/executive producer Robert Kirkman.
I don’t know what, specifically, Mazzara and AMC disagreed on, but this is getting ridiculous. The official statement makes clear that Mazzara isn’t moving on out of a disinterest with the show, but over a difference of opinion with the network. What’s next, AMC tells Vince Gilligan to turn Breaking Bad into a buddy comedy in order to extend the series’ run past the upcoming final season?
There’s no word on who will be stepping in to replace Mazzara as showrunner, but I feel like Kirkman is the guy for the job. He’s been with the series from the beginning and has acted as both an executive producer and writer on the show, so The Walking Dead would most assuredly be in good hands if he stepped in. Seriously, though, AMC has got to stop messing with their successes.
Here are individual statements from Mazzara, Kirkman, and producer Gale Anne Hurd:
My time as showrunner on The Walking Dead has been an amazing experience, but after I finish season 3, it’s time to move on. I have told the stories I wanted to tell and connected with our fans on a level that I never imagined. It doesn’t get much better than that. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey. – Glen Mazzara
I am in full support of both AMC and Glen Mazzara in the decision they have come to and believe the parties came to this decision in the best interest of the future of the show. I thank Glen for his hard work and appreciate his many contributions to The Walking Dead and look forward to working with him as we complete post production on Season 3. I am also excited to begin work on another spectacular season of this show that I know means so much to so many people. This show has always been the result of a wide range of extremely talented men and women working tirelessly to produce their best work collectively. I believe the future is bright for The Walking Dead. Thank you to the fans for your continued support. – Robert Kirkman
I am appreciative and grateful to Glen for his hard work on ‘The Walking Dead.’ I am supportive of AMC and Glen’s decision and know that the series is in great hands with one of the most talented and dedicated casts and crews in the business. I look forward to the show’s continued success. – Gale Anne Hurd
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You’ve gotta be kidding? Glen brought the show back from the brink of disaster and they don’t trust his judgment?
I agree, Glen absolutely saved this show from the boring, contrived direction it was seeming to go in the first half on season 2. I’m excited for the show and what direction it will go in, but anxious as well. If it takes a turn for the worst because of all these changes, I will be deaply disappointed, this show has been fantastic, for the most part.
At least we can all be confident that the show will remain class A material with Kirkman behind the scenes. They should just give the show to him.
If they do allow Kirkman to take the reigns hopefully he learned a lot from Mazzara and even Darabont and is able to keep the show as great as it has become this year.
I really hope that the powers that be at AMC realizes that the reason why so many of their shows have been successful is that they feature interesting characters that the audience really can care about – this is especially important for the Walking Dead. If they turn this into a zombie head-count show that leaves the character development behind they will lose a lot of the audience. If we don’t care about the characters then why should we care if they live or die? Season 3 is only half way through so to say it is the best installment seems premature. This season has had some of the best and some of the worst writing of the entire series (and that same sentence could apply to seasons 1 and 2). In other words, let’s see how the second half plays out and hope for the best….
Now they can bring on Lindelof! I know he’s a fan, and he’s had experience running a beloved series successfully and well, for its entire six seasons, before.
Ugh NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO he ruined Prometheus and Lost was overrated…STAY AWAY!
go home matty. u r drunk.
hahahaaa, i think this is a joke comment. Lindelof turns everything he touches to shit.
Bite your tongue sir!
Hahahahah ya that would be the worst possible choice. Something I could definitely see AMC doing…
Lance is being sarcastic, guys. I hope.
As long as Robert Kirkman is attached I have no fear that this series will continue to be amazing.
It all depends on how much control he has. I don’t get why AMC has any say as to the direction the show should be headed. This season so far has been incredible and a massive turn around and instead of rewarding the guy who does it they make the job more trouble than it’s worth for him. The people making these decisions are the ones who decide to put on crap like “small town security” and “comic book men”. AMC was on the way to being as great as HBO but allowing the suits to make creative decisions is disastrous.
Nice
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I hope they tone down the gore its getting too extreme!
Then go watch the CW network or something. TWD is not that gory.
Hahahaha. Awesome response to a dumb comment.
do i give a shit? no? all i want to see is zombie killings,
I WANT TO SEE SOME FEMALE ON FEMALE ZOMBIE SEX
THAT WOULD BE SO CREEPY BUT OH SO GOOD
Finally! Someone said what we’ve all been thinking
I completely concur
That’s really the only kind of sex I watch.
I see Rick jumping over a shark on skis with Carl at helm of the speedboat! RIP