It's nearly been two years since Maggie Rhee and Negan had their uneasy reunion in the streets of New York City. The Walking Dead's most long-standing rivalry was renewed in spinoff The Walking Dead: Dead City that took the pair to Manhattan in search of Maggie's son Hershel, who had been held by one of Negan's old friends, The Croat.
The six-episode series was a success for both AMC and AMC+, earning record-breaking viewing figures for the streamer and showcasing that there was still life in the TWD Universe. As the first of that universe's wave of new shows, the spotlight was on it to see if it could deliver and it pulled it off, setting the stage for a very unique second season in the process.
Although it earned an early renewal, it has been off-screens for some time. The good news is that we now know when it will return for another outing.
AMC reveals release date for The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2
The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 will premiere on AMC and AMC+ on Sunday, May 4 at 9/8c. The news came as the first clip from the series' sophomore outing was released online, showcasing what to expect from the opening minutes of the season premiere. And well, let's just say that the ambitious series is continuing to make full use of its iconic setting.
This season is likely set to take a spin on the first season's story, as Maggie will venture back into the streets of New York to potentially rescue Negan - the man she hates with a passion after his brutal killing of her husband Glenn on the parent TWD series' seventh season. The season 1 finale saw her essentially "betray" him when she used him to obtain her son's freedom, trading Negan to The Croat for Hershel's safe return to her.
Now, Negan has been posed with the chance of reclaiming the levels of power that were once his. The Croat and The Dama will look to use his expertise of running things in the apocalypse in a bid to take control of Manhattan, inspired by his infamous days as the leader of the Saviors'. The villain has turned over a new leaf in recent years but now he must take up this position in order to ensure that his new "employers" never go after Maggie or Hershel again.
As Maggie wrestles with the guilt over what she made happen, Negan may eventually end up enjoying this newfound power. The second season will lean into the idea of whether the old Negan will resurface, potentially even including the return of Lucille (his infamous barbed-wire-covered bat), or at least a new version of her.
After the show's first season concluded, fellow TWD Universe spinoff The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon came after that. Ironically, we could be in for a similar run of events here, as Daryl Dixon's third season is now expected to premiere this summer. And with that, it's clear that there is still a lot of life left in the TWD Universe.
The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 premieres on both AMC and AMC+ on May 4, 2025.