Television

‘Isle of the Dead’: New Walking Dead spinoff starring Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan coming in 2023

Before you roll your eyes, this one actually sounds pretty good.

March 7, 2022

On Monday, AMC announced yet another Walking Dead spinoff, which will join Tales of the Walking Dead and the untitled Daryl/Carol project once the main series wraps up this year.

Isle of the Dead will have a six-episode first season featuring Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) as they explore a post-apocalyptic Manhattan Island. It is scheduled to premiere at some point in 2023. Cohan and Morgan will also serve as producers on the series.

A bold new vision of #TWD is coming. #IsleOfTheDead arrives 2023 on @AMCPlus and @AMC_TV. pic.twitter.com/DNsHMDuIeT

— The Walking Dead on AMC (@WalkingDead_AMC) March 7, 2022

While this certainly sounds like a miniseries, the language in AMC’s press release makes it clear they plan for Isle of the Dead to continue after the initially six-episode offering.

Part of me isn’t thrilled about the timing of the announcement, which reveals that Maggie and Negan will not only survive Season 11 of The Walking Dead, but also cross paths again. That being said, the idea of these two exploring a giant urban death trap together (and why they’re together in the first place) seems all types of interesting.

Read the full press release from AMC below:

AMC Networks today announced that it has greenlit a new series set in The Walking Dead Universe, starring Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Isle of the Dead envisions the popular Maggie and Negan characters traveling into a post-apocalyptic Manhattan long ago cut off from the mainland. The crumbling city is filled with the dead and denizens who have made New York City their own world full of anarchy, danger, beauty, and terror. Set to premiere on AMC+ and AMC in 2023, the first season will consist of six episodes. Eli Jorné, who has been a writer and co-executive producer on The Walking Dead for multiple seasons and has an overall deal with AMC Studios, will serve as showrunner and executive producer on the series, which is overseen by Scott M. Gimple, chief content officer of The Walking Dead Universe. Cohan and Morgan will also serve as executive producers.

“This is a very big day for the expanding universe we are building around The Walking Dead,” said Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks. “It not only adds another compelling series to this collection, it extends our storytelling around two unforgettable characters fans have grown to love, hate or hate and then love in Maggie and Negan, brilliantly inhabited by Lauren and Jeffrey. It also lets us explore a corner of this universe located on the island of Manhattan, with an iconic skyline that takes on a very different meaning when viewed through the lens of a zombie apocalypse.”

“Eli has created a chaotic, beautiful, grimy madhouse of the dead for Negan, Maggie, and fans of the show eager to discover an unseen and insane world of the TWD Universe,” said Gimple. “Lauren and Jeffrey have always been fantastic collaborators and now, we bring that collaboration to the next level with a series that will take these characters to their limits with the world — and each other. All of us are thrilled to take you on an all new, all different TWD epic for the ages.”

Said Cohan: “I’m thrilled to partner with Dan McDermott and the team at AMC on the next chapter in The Walking Dead Universe. Maggie is very close to my heart and I’m excited to continue her journey against the iconic backdrop of New York City, alongside my friend and collaborator, Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Eli Jorné has created something incredibly special and I cannot wait for the fans to see what we have in store for Maggie and Negan.”

Said Morgan: “I’m delighted that Negan and Maggie’s journey continues. It’s been such a ride walking in Negan’s shoes, I’m beyond excited to continue his journey in New York City with Lauren. Walkers in an urban setting has always been such a cool image, but 5th Avenue, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty? The greatest city in the world?? The backdrop is amazing, but it’s the story that Eli Jorné cooked up that is even better. Buckle up folks, Isle of the Dead is going to reinvent the TWD Universe. Huge thank you to Dan McDermott, Scott Gimple and AMC for having us back for more… we simply can’t wait.”