Why is The Walking Dead ending? (Why season 12 isn’t happening)
The Walking Dead is coming to an end after an incredible and long run on TV screens. Why has AMC decided to end the series?
The Walking Dead is a TV veteran. Can you even remember a time that it wasn’t on television? It started before huge hits like Game of Thrones, Daredevil, Arrow, and others, outlasting the vast majority of its generation of shows.
But all good things must come to an end, and unfortunately that includes The Walking Dead. AMC announced back in 2020 that the series’ eleventh season would be the final offering for the show. They did soften the blow with the reveal that season 11 would be supersized and that there were multiple spin-offs in development – some of which would feature main TWD characters.
But still, it’s the end of The Walking Dead and that is a big deal. So what exactly went into this decision, and why was it made when TWD is still one of the biggest TV shows in the world?
Is The Walking Dead cancelled?
No, The Walking Dead was not cancelled by AMC. While the show’s viewership certainly isn’t what it was in its mid-run glory days, it still remains among AMC’s most-watched programs and is also one of the TV shows that generates the most buzz across all of television around the world.
The decision to end the series is seemingly down to the creative team feeling that the time was right for it to bow out. After all, nothing can go on forever, and with the multiple spinoffs set to carry the story forward, it makes sense to end the main series instead of having it go on without almost all of its main characters – especially as it had already lost many throughout its run.
As the statement from executive producer Scott Gimple announcing the show’s ending said:
"“This will be a grand finale that will lead to new premieres. Evolution is upon us. THE WALKING DEAD lives.”"
This may be the end for The Walking Dead as a series, but the TWD Universe will live on for a long time to come, both through the legacy it has crafted for fans to enjoy and the multiple spin-off shows that will carry on that legacy.
Next. All 11 seasons of The Walking Dead ranked from worst to best. dark
Are you sad about The Walking Dead‘s conclusion? Do you think season 12 should have happened? Are you looking forward to the TWD Universe spinoffs? Let us know in the comments below!