AMC settles ‘Walking Dead’ claim with filmmaker Frank Darabont for $200 million

AMC Networks has actually settled a prolonged legal conflict with filmmaker Frank Darabont and the Creative Artists Agency for $200 million over the cable television network owner’s long-running zombie series “The Walking Dead.”

This settlement comes less than a month prior to the series starts its eleventh and last season. 

In the settlement, submitted Friday to the SEC, AMC purchases all the rights to “The Walking Dead” and all associated spinoffs from Darabont, executive manufacturer and imaginative force throughout the very first 2 seasons of “The Walking Dead.” In addition to the money payment, the settlement offers income sharing for future streaming exhibits of “The Walking Dead” and “Fear The Walking Dead” to Darabont.

Darabont is an Oscar-chosen filmmaker who directed “The Shawshank Redemption.” 

The settlement likewise consists of covenants not to take legal action against, privacy and waivers, to name a few arrangements. 

AMC stated it took a charge of $143 million associated to the settlement throughout the quarter ending June 30.

Darabont and CAA initially introduced a claim in late 2013, when the series was amongst the most popular on tv. Darabont and business had actually looked for roughly $300 million in revenue involvement payments, and the trial for the claim was set to begin in April 2022. 

Darabont’s lawyer and CAA did not instantly react to CNBC’s ask for remark.

“The Walking Dead,” based upon Robert Kirkman’s comic, premiered in 2010 and generated spinoffs “Fear the Walking Dead” and “The Walking Dead: World Beyond.” Its last season premieres Aug. 22.