Hot on the heels of its record-breaking second season premiere, AMC has renewed The Walking Dead for a third season.
Last week’s 90-minute Season 2 premiere shattered basic-cable ratings in a pair of key demographics, drawing 4.8 million viewers in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 metric as well as 4.2 million adults 25-54 en route to collecting 7.3 million total viewers.
“Today we are pleased to announce that the ‘dead’ shall live as we proudly renew The Walking Dead for a third season on AMC and, globally, with our terrific partners at Fox International Channels,” AMC president Charlie Collier said Tuesday. “We are thankful for everyone’s contribution in front of and behind the camera as we continue to make The Walking Dead a unique television experience. And, we are so proud as it continues to set viewership records around the world.”
Adapted from Robert Kirkman’s long-running comic book series by former showrunner Frank Darabont, Walking Dead stars Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, the leader of a rag-tag group of survivors of an unexplained zombie apocalypse. Glen Mazzara serves as showrunner, with Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert and Darabont serving as executive producers. Emmy-winning special effects artist Greg Nicotero co-produces.
