‘Isle of the Dead’: Maggie, Negan venture into post-apocalyptic Manhattan in new ‘The Walking Dead’ spin-off
AMC has greenlit another spin-off series set in The Walking Dead universe, with Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan reprising their roles as Maggie and Negan.
Called Isle of the Dead, the new spin-off will follow the two characters as they travel 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,” the description reads.
Slated to premiere on AMC Plus and AMC in 2023, the spin-off’s first season will consist of six episodes.
“I’m thrilled to partner with Dan McDermott and the team at AMC on the next chapter in The Walking Dead Universe,” Cohan said. 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.”
Morgan, meanwhile, said that he’s delighted that Negan and Maggie’s journey will continue in the new spin-off.
“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??” Morgan said.
He added: “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.”
The Walking Dead writer and co-executive producer Eli Jorné 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 are also attached as executive producers of the show.
“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.”
Apart from Isle of the Dead, AMC is also working on several The Walking Dead projects including the ongoing prequel show Fear the Walking Dead, limited series The Walking Dead: World Beyond, as well as the upcoming anthology series Tales of the Walking Dead.
Additionally, a brand new spin off starring the crossbow-weilding Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) and Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) will premiere on the streaming service in 2023.