Despite its season seven ratings slide carrying over into the current eighth season, The Walking Dead remains the highest-rated drama on television, and AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan believes that the series has decades left at the top.
“The use of the word ‘franchise,’ we don’t take lightly. It’s not a sloppy or casual word,” Sapan said. “We’ve studied the best. Some have been around 30, 40, 50 years. We have a chance for a lot of life in the franchise. [It’s] in great shape and the people who are managing that great shape are motivated.”
In addition to the main series and its companion show Fear the Walking Dead (both of which are set to cross over next year), AMC also has its aftershow Talking Dead, and is looking to branch out further in terms of gaming, virtual reality and merchandising.
Sapan has previously compared his ambitions for The Walking Dead with that of the Star Trek, suggesting it could have the same kind of longevity as the sci-fi franchise.
Originally published November 5, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
