The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman is suing AMC again
According to a report from Deadline, The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and several producers on the post-apocalyptic zombie show are suing AMC for $200 million.
The new breach of contract action is being filed by Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert, Charles Eglee and Glenn Mazzara, who filed a similar lawsuit in 2017 that is set to go to trial in 2023, albeit with many of the plaintiffs’ claims having been tossed out over the years. Essentially, they’re arguing that AMC has cheated them of profits made from the show, although the actual arguments get pretty technical.
“Even though AMC exploited Plaintiffs’ ideas and services to make billions from The Walking Dead franchise, AMC issued a MAGR (modified adjusted gross receipt) definition that, in its original form, would not have paid out a single dollar in profit participation to Plaintiffs,” reads the 19-page filing. “Unsurprisingly, AMC’s MAGR definition has spurred a storm of disputes with the creative talent on The Walking Dead that ultimately resulted in litigation.”
Former Walking Dead showrunner Frank Darabont pursued a similar lawsuit in 2013, which resulted in a $200 million settlement being paid to him and Creative Artists Agency.
AMC pushes back against new Walking Dead lawsuit
AMC’s lawyers responded to the lawsuit in a statement:
"Robert Kirkman, David Alpert and the rest of these plaintiffs have had their biggest claims against AMC Networks thrown out of court twice, so now they are back with another lawsuit. And another lawsuit means another attempt to rewrite their agreements and extract even more than the millions they have already been paid, and will be paid in the future, for their profit participation in The Walking Dead. This is just another crass money grab. We are confident it will fail, as their previous attempts have failed."
The news comes just before the series finale of The Walking Dead airs this Sunday. It will wrap up an 11-season, 177-episode adaptation of Kirkman’s comic book that began airing on AMC way back in 2010. Kirkman’s Walking Dead comic ran from 2003-2019.
Many Walking Dead spin-off shows are either already airing or in development at AMC, including a show about former main character Rick Grimes and his partner Michonne. That could lots more opportunities for litigation for years to come.
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