The Walking Dead season 10 is likely … but after that?

Is it possible that The Walking Dead season 10 could be the last one of the AMC zombie show? It’s something that we’ve personally speculated about for a little while, largely because of the simple notion that all good things must end and this is a series that has had a rather incredible run already. We’re midway through season 8, and the show is unfortunately showing some of the first real signs of declines. The ratings are lower than they’ve been in years, Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus’ contracts are set to expire soon, and the death of Carl Grimes feels like one of those things that will accelerate the story and bring it closer to the endgame. It’s not an endgame coming up immediately, but it’s one that should happen before too much longer.

One of the reasons for the delayed renewal by AMC could be the network trying to figure through negotiations how to handle things, whether it be with cast contracts, episode counts, or trying to renew the show for two seasons at once. Our feeling is that the network will announce them in tandem while proclaiming that season 10 is the last one. This is the move that allows the audience to know that the ending is coming, and that could in turn help them to retain the majority of the viewers that they have left.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Scott M. Gimple was very confident in the notion that there would be another couple of seasons ahead — while also talking about the wait for the renewal and the legal stuff that needs to be worked out:

“I’m very confident of a tenth season. I think it is a question but there is some business to handle with the things you just said. I’m not sure if they’re entirely on the money, as far as timing and everything like that, but I think we are tending to a lot of stuff before we jump into that. In the same respect, there’s a super long-term plan and we’re continuing to follow it. I know that’s a lot of double-talk, but I would say everything is quite cool.”

The next order of business for Gimple should be trying to find a way to fan some of the flames of people who are extremely upset over him deciding to write Chandler Riggs out of the show. After all, there is that petition out there with more than 38,000 names on it calling for him to be fired. You can read more about that over at the link here.

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