Netflix & The Walking Dead Set Huge New $500M Deal

Published Jul 30, 2026, 9:34 AM EDT Ryan Northrup is a Senior Staff Writer on ScreenRant's Movie & TV News team, where he has authored nearly 5,000 articles, including features and reviews. A graduate of McMaster University, Ryan began his career in public relations before attending Vancouver Film School. There, he built lasting industry connections and optioned a feature film screenplay. The Walking Dead and Netflix just solidified their relationship. Based on the comic by Robert Kirkman, the hit AMC zombie show premiered in 2010, following Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes and a group of survivors after an apocalyptic outbreak. The Walking Dead concluded in 2022 with season 11 but continues to live on as a streaming success, as well as in the form of various spinoffs. Per Variety, a $500 million licensing deal has now ensured that The Walking Dead will stream on both Netflix and AMC+ for five years starting in 2027. The deal covers the flagship series, as well as six spinoff shows, including Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, The Walking Dead: Dead City, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and Tales of the Walking Dead. Image via MovieStillDB Encompassing 371 episodes in total, the new deal will see the various shows become available next year on different dates, depending on subscribers' region. In the U.S., Netflix has been The Walking Dead's exclusive streaming home since 2011, meaning this deal will mark the first time the series will be available on AMC+. The franchise's availability on Netflix is also set to expand. The Walking Dead and its spinoffs are expected to launch on Netflix in the U.K., Italy, Australia, and New Zealand, in addition to other territories yet to be announced. Lori Conkling, Vice President of Licensing at Netflix shared an enthusiastic statement about the new deal with AMC: “Audiences have discovered and loved The Walking Dead on Netflix for nearly 15 years and the show continues to attract new fans. We’re excited to partner with AMC Global Media to continue to expand that access to more audiences around the world and bring the entirety of The Walking Dead Universe to Netflix.” CEO of AMC Global Media Kristin Dolan also shared a statement about the deal, celebrating the franchise's continued popularity and its upcoming expanded reach: “We are thrilled to expand our long-time partnership with Netflix around The Walking Dead. This deal creates a global destination for this universe – all shows, all episodes – making the franchise more accessible than ever to fans around the world. In addition, the co-exclusive agreement allows us to bring the original series to AMC+ for the first time early next year. Netflix has been an important partner in making The Walking Dead one of the most successful franchises in the history of entertainment. This agreement is a fantastic result for our companies, for the fans and for this timeless IP.” Though the flagship series wrapped up four years ago now, several spinoffs are still going strong. The Walking Dead: Dead City season 3 is currently in the midst of airing new episodes, picking up the story of Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in New York City. Also coming up is Daryl Dixon season 4. The upcoming season of the Norman Reedus-focused spinoff is expected to premiere next year and is confirmed to serve as the show's final outing. In addition to these two shows, it has been confirmed that more of Tales of the Walking Dead is in development. Announced back in 2023, it's unclear when more episodes of the anthology series may arrive. Scott M. Gimple, the franchise's chief content officer, has also confirmed that he has big plans for the larger Walking Dead universe, potentially involving the return of some familiar faces. Though much of the franchise's future remains unknown, the latest deal between Netflix and AMC confirms that The Walking Dead remains an important franchise for both entities. Even 16 years after it debuted, the show – as well as its many spinoffs – evidently continues to be a popular choice for viewers on streaming. TV Show(s) The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Tales of the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: Dead City, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, More Tales from the Walking Dead Universe Video Game(s) The Walking Dead The Game, The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, OVERKILL'S The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, The Walking Dead: Destinies First TV Show The Walking Dead Cast Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Danai Gurira, Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chandler Riggs, Steven Yeun, Lennie James Created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard Latest TV Show The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live