'The Walking Dead' Renewed for Season 9 With New Showrunner

Angela Kang, who served as writer/co-executive producer for the show since 2011, has been promoted to showrunner as Scott M. Gimple will now oversee the franchise.

"The Walking Dead" is here to stay for another season. The post-apocalyptic drama series has received a ninth season order from AMC for a late 2018 premiere, with a new showrunner. Angela Kang, who served as writer/co-executive producer for the show since 2011, has been promoted to showrunner and executive producer.

Meanwhile, former showrunner Scott M. Gimple is elevated to a new role as Chief Content Officer of "the entire 'Dead' television universe, including 'The Walking Dead', 'Fear the Walking Dead', and potential brand extensions on a variety of platforms."

"This is an enormously important day for the entire 'The Walking Dead' television universe. We are proud to acknowledge Angela's significant contribution to the series and to set a clear path forward for a ninth season under her direction," said Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios in a statement.

Collier added, "Further, with gratitude and admiration, we also recognize Scott's broad impact on, and leadership of, the content that fuels our 'TWD' universe. Together, we will dream bigger and more broadly than ever before. I know I speak for Angela, Scott and everyone at AMC when I say thanks most of all to the fans and the many talented people who have helped AMC play 'Dead'."

Gimple also commented on his new position, " 'The Walking Dead' is a special show which started in an entirely different era of TV, and continues, in this new era, to confidently take chances to tell compelling stories that excite audiences and make them deeply connect with its characters, adapting Robert Kirkman's brilliant comic book."

He continued, "As the show closes in on its 10th year, I'm honored to keep working with the talented, dedicated people behind and in front of the camera to make it all it can be, while expanding the world of 'The Walking Dead' with new narratives like 'Fear the Walking Dead' and a whole host of truly cool stories ahead. Angela is a big part of the heart and soul of 'The Walking Dead', and I'm thrilled to help facilitate her vision of the show's next era."

Kang said, "I am beyond thrilled to be stepping into this new role with 'The Walking Dead'. Working on this series and having the opportunity to adapt Robert Kirkman's amazing comic has been a fangirl dream come true for me. I'm excited to continue working with Scott and the wonderfully supportive folks at AMC, and can't wait to share the next chapter of the story with our fans next fall."

A hit zombie show on AMC, "The Walking Dead" has seen its ratings slide as many fans complained over the twists, particularly the ones that involved the main characters' deaths, in the recent seasons. It, however, still ranks as TV's No. 1 drama among the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic.

In other news, AMC has set a premiere date for the new season of "Fear the Walking Dead". The network announced at the Television Critics' Association Press Tour on Saturday, January 13 that "The Walking Dead" spin-off would return for a fourth season on Sunday, April 15 at 10 P.M. ET.