The Walking Dead premiered in 2010 during the height of zombie fever. After a string of zombie cinematic releases, including Dawn of the Dead (2004), Twenty-Eight Weeks Later (2007), I am Legend (2007) (which is getting a sequel), and Day of the Dead (2008), Frank Darabont took advantage of a ripe and ready market. With Darabont as creative director and an impressive cast comprised of Jon Bernthal (Shane), Andrew Lincoln (Rick), Norman Reedus (Daryl), Steven Yeun (Glen), and Sarah Wayne Callies (Lori), The Walking Dead became a massive hit. Together the team delivered the perfect elixir of entertainment, with a near-perfect ratio of drama and horror. At the time, there was nothing comparable.
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According to a 2014 entertainment article in Times:
The flagship series has managed a decade-long run, something few shows have done. So there is no denying The Walking Dead has been an immense success. The series held its position as a powerhouse for five years before even seeing a sizable decline in viewership. The fandom was so strong in the early years that in the thick of the series, the creatives dropped the first spin-off, Fear The Walking Dead. At the time, this move was a no-brainer. A 2015 article in The New York Times referenced a study conducted by the SNL Kagan research firm proving the success of the flagship series.
“In terms of ratings, The Walking Dead consistently won the all-important 18-49 demographic, even outperforming the Olympics twice.”
So, it is reasonable to conclude that a strong premiere and years of solid viewership were prominent rationales for early expansion. Additionally, despite the series being rooted in the source material, there were a lot of places creatives could go with the base concepts. As Time notes:
Fear the Walking Dead was as successful as its predecessor, an indicator that creatively, things were headed in the right direction. The earlier numbers proved fans were not quite tired of the franchise. As an additional indicator, Fear the Walking Dead has been renewed for season eight. But, of course, it’s hard to put on the brakes when something is good.
“The show’s success also speaks to the versatility of the zombie genre — or, more so, the fact there’s so much metaphorical potential within it.”
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Even after the initial decline of The Walking Dead, hope remained, given earlier successes. Furthermore, there was more story left to tell. So, with a change in angle, perhaps there was greater potential for market expansion. So The Walking Dead: The World Beyond, which premiered in 2020, was crafted. Although not as strong as its predecessors, it held its own for two years.
The Original Walking Dead Series Concludes
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Things are finally ending for the flagship series. Nevertheless, after a decade on air, saying goodbyes can be bitter. And the creative expansion of this franchise is positive proof that some things don’t go down so quietly. Current creative director Scott Gimple has not definitively disclosed a rationale for further creative expansion. However, he is recorded as saying this to BBC in 2020:
Theoretically, rationales can run the gamut from fan service to a desire to re-create the magic which started it all. Regardless, there is more on the horizon. So, die-hard fans can breathe easily. Although some will loathe what is ahead, the more endeared may discover the three upcoming spin-offs are a bit of heaven.
This will be a grand finale that will lead to new premieres. Evolution is upon us. The Walking Dead lives.
Future Walking Dead Spin-Offs
Currently, there are three spin-offs in the works. One has wrapped production, and two others are waiting in the wings. According to sources, the upcoming spin-offs expand the universe into new territories. Through these spin-offs, fans will delve into how the apocalypse has affected life globally through varying circumstances.
Tales of the Walking Dead will serve as the newest addition to the franchise. This spin-off will veer from the original formula used for the preceding series. Tales of the Walking Dead is written as an anthology wherein viewers will get their terror in doses. Each account will be told in hour-long segments with a different nucleus for each episode. As expected, all tales are set in the same post-apocalyptic universe, and an impressive cast undergirds the stories.
Some characters with which fans will experience the next chapter include Terry Crews, Olivia Munn, and Samantha Morton, whom many will recognize as Alpha. Fans will get their first portion of this spin-off on August 14, 2022.
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The second spin-off in the works features Norman Reedus, also known as Daryl Dixon. When news of the spin-off broke, it was reported another fan favorite, Melissa McBride (Carol), would headline alongside Reedus. However, due to scheduling and other factors, it was a commitment McBride could not undertake. Fans were devastated to read the headline, The Walking Dead’s Daryl and Carol spin-off lost Melissa McBride. Many wondered whether the announcement would put a cap on the project.
As it stands, the show is still a go. The Norman Reedus spin-off, for the moment, remains untitled. Furthermore, production has yet to start. However, in earlier interviews, Norman Reedus detailed that production will take place in Europe, the locale where the show will also be set. So, viewers will get to see how another continent has handled a world overrun by zombies, Predictions point to filming beginning next year, and Reedus has high hopes.
The lead actor told Leo this spin-off promises to take the franchise in a new direction and is particularly excited about how the story will unfold. He remains sure of the possibility many of the characters will reunite at some point despite the ending of the flagship series. Reedus stated:
Series favorites Negan and Maggie will carry the third spin-off in the works Isle of the Dead. In Isle of the Dead, Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan) are in Manhattan, taking the fight to the Big Apple. Also cast in the series is Gaius Charles, known for his role in Friday Night Lights and Grey’s Anatomy. He will play the role of Perlie Armstrong. It is noted Gaius will play as a lead opposite Morgan and Cohan, indicating he could be the big bad in this series.
“So the world of Walking Dead is kind of expanding into different territories and different storylines; they’re kind of splitting it up, and, I think some of these characters will come back together—she [Carol] and I will definitely come back together.”
Jeffrey Dean Morgan recently teased the start of filming for the incumbent Walking Dead Isle of the Dead spin-off. He is more than excited, contending Isle of the Dead will not only reinvent the series, it will blow minds.
And while Reedus’s spin-off is predicted to begin filming in 2023, Isle of the Dead is tentatively set to air in 2023.
Are Spin-Offs a Gamble Worth Taking?
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Spin-offs are not new things. For years series favorites have generated enough fandom to spin off a story or two. Viewers only need to recollect series such as The Jeffersons, Family Matters, Fraiser, Better Call Saul, and Station 19. Admittedly, some spin-offs fell flat while others surpassed their originals. However, unlike other shows, The Walking Dead has managed to spur a universe of spin-offs proving endings are only beginnings.
Given the former success of the flagship and first spin-off, the risk could pay off. But, conversely, the spin-offs could be the death knell of the universe. As the saying goes, without risk, there can be no reward. And one cannot deny the probability of success is there. However, since Tales of the Dead is first on the docket, it will indeed be the metric for the others to follow.
