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The Walking Dead Renewed for Season 4; Showrunner Glen Mazzara leaving series

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K

Killthee

helped a brotha out on multiple separate occasions!
UPDATE:Scott Gimple will be taking over and The Hollywood Reporter is saying Kirkman had issues with Mazzara.

Nellie Andreva said:
Scott Gimple Promoted To Showrunner Of ‘The Walking Dead’, Replaces Glen Mazzara

For a second consecutive time, The Walking Dead is reaching within to replace a showrunner. The series’ supervising producer Scott M. Gimple is finalizing a deal to become executive producer and new showrunner of the hit zombie drama series. Gimple is expected to convene his writing team to begin work on Season 4 in the next two weeks. He replaces Glen Mazzara, who exited when Walking Dead was renewed for a fourth season last month. Mazzara in turn succeeded The Walking Dead creator/director/original showrunner Frank Darabont several episodes into production on Season 2. Both Darabont and Mazzara were removed from the series. Mazzara’s departure is said to have been done under pressure from Walking Dead executive producer Robert Kirkman, on whose comic the TV show is based.

While controversial, the transition from Darabont to Mazzara proved seamless, with the series continuing to break ratings records, including in the blockbuster recent fall portion of Season 3 whose premiere stands as the top-rated fall telecast on broadcast or cable. Gimple has been with The Walking Dead since the beginning of Season 2 when the show established a writing staff. He currently serves as supervising producer. This season, Gimple wrote the Nov. 18 episode Hounded and the penultimate Season 2 hour, which airs on March 24. The Walking Dead returns with originals Feb. 10. Gimple, repped by UTA, Thruline and Ziffren, also has worked on series Chase, FlashForward, Life and wrote a script for the upcoming Starz drama Da Vinci’s Demons. On the feature side, he co-wrote Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance.
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Kim Masters said:
Why 'The Walking Dead' Killed Off Its Latest Showrunner

Several insiders confirm that Kirkman, whose detailed graphic novels form the basis of the series, is "very proprietary," as one puts it. One adds, "I believe Robert wants to maintain a certain amount of his control, and AMC needs Robert for the fan base." But despite the vitriol, some sources involved with Walking Dead say Kirkman was one of several producers on the show who had issues with Mazzara and his vision.

One source says Mazzara's shortcomings in running the series during the most recent third season became "abundantly clear … especially for the second half of the season." This source says production was shut down "several times" because of a lack of material.

Mazzara declined comment but will participate in a Jan. 11 AFI awards luncheon that will honor Walking Dead as one of 2012's top shows. The midseason finale Dec. 2 lured 10.5 million total viewers and 6.9 million in the key adults 18-to-49 demo, crushing nearly all broadcast network shows.

To date, Kirkman has responded to the criticism only with a restrained tweet: "@sutterink is brilliant and Sons is my favorite show on TV. Still, it's upsetting to see him ranting about things he knows nothing about." AMC declined comment.
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ORIGINAL POST:
Eric Goldman said:
The Walking Dead Renewed for Season 4; Showrunner Glen Mazzara Leaves Series Over "Difference of Opinion"

It's no shock that The Walking Dead has officially been renewed for Season 4. In fact, given what a huge hit it is, it's odd it took this long for AMC to make it official. But there was a big surprise in the press release AMC just put out announcing the renewal: Executive Producer/Showrunner Glen Mazzara is leaving the series. Mazzara of course replaced original showrunner Frank Darabont, in what was a widely-publicized shakeup behind-the-scenes on the series.

The press release reads:

"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."

Glen Mazzara has released the following statement: "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."

The Walking Dead's creator, Robert Kirkman, has released his own statement as well: "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."

Lastly, Gale Anne Hurd, who continues on as an executive producer, said in her statement, "“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.”"

For such a big hit -- this fall it achieved the astounding feat of becoming the biggest scripted series on television among among adults 18-49 -- The Walking Dead has been through a lot of creative turbulence in its three seasons on the air. Darabont was replaced by AMC in the first half of Season 2, with Mazzara (who was already writing for the series) taking his place as showrunner. It's not clear yet who will replace Mazzara for the fourth season and if it will be someone already working on the series or someone brand new to The Walking Dead.
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iqJGsNIgPibhV.gif
 
F

freshair

Member
I've only seen season 1 and part of season 2.

How far away have they strayed from the original comic book? I've read them all and S2 started out way too slow for me so I kind of gave up, but I heard S3 is good.
 
M

Messypandas

Member
I wonder if its something to do with staying faithful to the comic i.e spoilers obv
The entire cast bloodbath that would probably end the prison run/season 3. I wonder if Glen was for and the studio were against
 
K

Killthee

helped a brotha out on multiple separate occasions!
freshair said:
I've only seen season 1 and part of season 2.

How far away have they strayed from the original comic book? I've read them all and S2 started out way too slow for me so I kind of gave up, but I heard S3 is good.
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S2 starts to get better during the second half, right when Mazzara took over. S3 has been great so far, I just hope they can keep the momentum going into S4 once Mazzara is gone.
 
P

-Pyromaniac-

Member
If we go by history someone better will come on and make it even better than it is now
(which is pretty damn good since Mezarra came on).
 
V

Viewt

Member
What's going on with this show and it's showrunners? Is AMC down their throat, is Kirkman too difficult to work with? For what's, ratings-wise, the most successful show to ever hit basic cable, it's very strange that they're going to be on their third head EP in three years.
 
B

BSsBrolly

Banned
I don't know why that crying guy gif made me laugh so hard...

Edit: something weird about him only being able to produce tears out of his left eye.
 
G

gdt

Member
What the fuck? what the fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck?

What the goddamn fuck is going on at AMC? The show is in a major creative resurgence and they axe the guy who got them there?
 
L

Like the hat?

Banned
I want to get into the series but I haven't really heard anything good about season 2 and most of season 1. Liked the pilot but that's all I've watched.
 
V

vidcons

Banned
It's time they fire the entire writing staff and bring Darabont back with a new crew. Take another crack at Season 2.

The affirmative action on TWD is fucking insulting, btw.
 
W

Wthermans

Banned
Show is so far from the comic book that I have no interest to watch it until it's completion. It's practically two different stories with the TV show stealing the source material.
 
A

An-Det

Member
Guess that explains why it took so long to confirm the obvious renewal. Awful choice by AMC to let him go though, Mazzara is the reason the show got awesome this season. Not to say whoever replaces him will fail, but this doesn't bode well.
 
M

Maxrunner

Member
Its like the keep firing the more important guys because they want all the money for them or something. With all the records it has broken and the fact that most of the cast was underpaid i wonder how far from the truth this might be...
 
I

IronRinn

Member
I wonder if Mazzara leaving is due to the same circumstances as Durabont: AMC wants the show to be cheaper, always cheaper, and the showrunners can't/won't do it.
 
L

LevelNth

Banned
All of you stop acting like complete nancy's and quit whining about a completely unknown situation.

This in fact is one of the WORST shows to do that with, as this exact situation already happened, and everything worked out fine.
 
C

Clay Davis

Member
IronRinn said:
I wonder if Mazzara leaving is due to the same circumstances as Durabont: AMC wants the show to be cheaper, always cheaper, and the showrunners can't/won't do it.
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what's the reason for this do you think? is the network / channel suffering from financial difficulties or something? they have a great show on their hands but they seem almost obsessed with ruining it.
 
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