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Even the most relentless horde eventually stops chasing. After years of courtroom skirmishes that refused to die, AMC has agreed to hand over $120 million to settle claims from the creator and several producers of its zombie juggernaut, "The Walking Dead." The dispute centered on allegations they weren't paid what their contracts promised — and worse, that they'd been shut out entirely from an earlier settlement involving the show's own executive producer.

The Filing That Broke the Silence

AMC Global Media Inc. disclosed the resolution in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Sept. 4, confirming a settlement reached with creator Robert Kirkman, producers Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert, Charles Eglee and Glen Mazzara, along with a handful of corporate plaintiffs tied to the franchise.

Echoes of an Earlier Battle

To understand this settlement, rewind to 2013 and 2018, when Frank Darabont — the show's executive producer during its very first season — filed suit in New York court, arguing he'd been shortchanged under his contract. That fight didn't stay buried either; both cases were eventually resolved in 2021, with Darabont walking away $200 million richer.

But that resolution planted the seed for round two. Kirkman and his fellow producers argued they, too, were owed money under their own contracts and should have been folded into Darabont's payout rather than left standing outside looking in. Their case landed in California court before being shifted to California federal court in 2022 — a legal relay race spanning coasts and years.

A Truce, Finally

In a joint statement, the parties struck a notably warm tone for what had been a bitter dispute, saying they were "pleased to announce the amicable resolution of all their remaining claims and litigation related to 'The Walking Dead' television franchise." They added that they "look forward to sharing in the continued success of the franchise for many years to come" — a symbolic handshake after years of legal trench warfare.

Who Argued the Case

On the producers' side, the legal team included Courtney Elgart, Jean Fleurmont, Sheldon Eisenberg and Stephanie Command of Sullivan & Triggs LLP.

AMC, meanwhile, leaned on Brian Ascher, Daniel Nowicki, Marissa Mulligan and Orin Snyder of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP to negotiate its side of the deal.

The Bigger Picture

Add it up, and the "Walking Dead" universe has now shelled out $320 million combined across both settlements — a striking reminder that behind every zombie apocalypse on screen, there's a very real, very expensive battle over paychecks happening off it. For a franchise built on survival, it seems even its creators had to fight to get what they were owed.