AMC settles 'The Walking Dead' profit lawsuit for $120 million

AMC Global Media has reached an amicable settlement to resolve a long-running profit participation lawsuit involving 'The Walking Dead' franchise. The agreement, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, mandates a total compensation of $120 million to the plaintiffs, which include series creator Robert Kirkman and several producers such as Glen Mazzara, David Alpert, Charles Eglee, and Gale Anne Hurd.

The settlement structure includes an $85 million cash payment due by September 18, 2026, and a $35 million payment due by January 31, 2027. The final $35 million installment will serve as an advance against future profit participation for both the original series and its spin-off, 'Fear the Walking Dead'.

The litigation, which was filed in 2022, centered on allegations that AMC failed to honor contractual obligations regarding the calculation and distribution of profits for the highly successful franchise. This resolution follows a previous $200 million settlement in 2021 involving director Frank Darabont and his agency, CAA, over similar profit-sharing disputes.