Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohan on The Walking Dead.Photo: Josh Stringer/AMC
The Walking Deaduniverse is expanding!
On Monday, AMC Networks announced a newWalking Deadspinoff series titledIsle of the Dead. The new show, which starsLauren CohanandJeffrey Dean Morgan, is set to follow theirWalking Deadcharacters, Maggie and Negan, in a post-apocalyptic Manhattan.
“The crumbling city is filled with the dead and denizens who have made New York City their own world full of anarchy, danger, beauty, and terror,” read a logline for the series.
The six-episode series is expected to premiere on AMC+ and AMC in 2023, with currentWalking Deadwriter and co-executive producer, Eli Jorné, signed on as showrunner and executive producer.
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Cohan, 40, and Morgan, 55, will also serve as executive producers, while Scott M. Gimple, the chief content officer ofTheWalking DeadUniverse, will continue in his role for the upcoming project.
In a statement, Cohan said she was “thrilled” to be part of “the next chapter inThe Walking DeadUniverse.”
“Maggie is very close to my heart and I’m excited to continue her journey against the iconic backdrop of New York City, alongside my friend and collaborator, Jeffrey Dean Morgan,” she said. “Eli Jorné has created something incredibly special and I cannot wait for the fans to see what we have in store for Maggie and Negan.”
Cohan joined the show in season 2 and left in 2019. She later returned in season 9.
Lauren Cohan on The Walking Dead.Jackson Lee Davis/AMC
Morgan, who joined the franchise in season 5, added in his own statement: “I’m delighted that Negan and Maggie’s journey continues. It’s been such a ride walking in Negan’s shoes, I’m beyond excited to continue his journey in New York City with Lauren. Walkers in an urban setting has always been such a cool image, but 5th Avenue, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty? The greatest city in the world?? The backdrop is amazing, but it’s the story that Eli Jorné cooked up that is even better. Buckle up folks,Isle of the Deadis going to reinvent theTWDUniverse. Huge thank you to Dan McDermott, Scott Gimple and AMC for having us back for more… we simply can’t wait.”
McDermott, who is the president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks, and Gimple also spoke about their excitement for the new show.
“Eli has created a chaotic, beautiful, grimy madhouse of the dead for Negan, Maggie, and fans of the show eager to discover an unseen and insane world of theTWDUniverse,” said Gimple. “Lauren and Jeffrey have always been fantastic collaborators and now, we bring that collaboration to the next level with a series that will take these characters to their limits with the world — and each other. All of us are thrilled to take you on an all-new, all differentTWDepic for the ages.”
Jeffrey Dean Morgan.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
The Walking Deadpremiered on AMC in October 2010 and is currently in its 11th season. In addition to Cohan and Morgan, the show starsNorman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Danai Gurira, Christian Serratos, Josh McDermitt, Seth Gilliam, Ross Marquand and Khary Payton.
During its last 12 years on the air, the hit zombie apocalypse series has been nominated and won dozens of awards. It also spawned multiple spinoffs, includingFear the Walking Dead,The Walking Dead: The World Beyond, andTales of the Walking Dead.
The final season ofThe Walking Dead, which was split into three parts,is currently airing on Sunday nights at 9 pm ET on AMC. The second part (which includes eight episodes) began streaming on Feb. 20, while the third and final installment will premiere later this year.
source: people.com
