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The reasons for the exit remain somewhat shrouded.
Fans of AMC’s The Walking Dead have been speculating about showrunner Glen Mazzara’s departure from the series ever since it was announced in late December. Supervising producer Scott Gimple has stepped in to take over Mazzara's EP and showrunning duties. The ratings record breaker has had a good amount of behind-the-scenes shake-ups. Mazzara famously stepped in to replace series creator Frank Darabont in the show’s second season.
Mazzara appeared on a panel alongside Lost’s Damon Lindelof at the NATPE/Content First Conference this week where, as Deadline reports, he briefly commented on the controversy, essentially directing reporters to speak with AMC if they want definitive answers. “When people involved with the show are looking at the long-term plan, you know, they want something different. And what those differences are, you’d have to ask AMC,” Mazzara said.
Adding, “I was a hired gun coming in to support the creator of the show and, through odd circumstances, I ended up becoming the showrunner. I was just glad that I was able to contribute and not mess up the show, I see that as a win.”
As mentioned, the series has enjoyed both critical acclaim and record-breaking ratings under Mazzara’s watch, as such, his exit came as a particular shock. It has been rumored that Mazzara was removed at comic-book writer/producer Robert Kirkman’s request. Addressing some of those claims, the former showrunner said, “When you are the creator you can say this is what the show is. I didn’t create the show, I didn’t create the comic book so I was just glad I was able to contribute,”
Lindelof, for his part, added a perspective as a former showrunner on a hit series. “I don’t know what the climate’s like at that show or at AMC, there’s different culture at every network,” he said. “But I do think that there’s a bit of misconception in that if a show is doing very very well that there’s a laissez-Faire attitude about ‘well, they must be doing something right so we’re going to leave them alone.’”
The Star Trek Into Darkness and Prometheus scribe recalled the pressure that followed Lost’s successful debut on ABC. “Suddenly there was seven executives I’d never met before and it was more like ‘Oh my God, don’t f*** it up!’” he said. “We’re on the creative side of it but it’s a business. And the most expensive thing you can do on a television show is produce three seasons of it and get cancelled,” Lindelof said. At which point the pair, reportedly, nodded in agreement.
Fans of AMC’s The Walking Dead have been speculating about showrunner Glen Mazzara’s departure from the series ever since it was announced in late December. Supervising producer Scott Gimple has stepped in to take over Mazzara's EP and showrunning duties. The ratings record breaker has had a good amount of behind-the-scenes shake-ups. Mazzara famously stepped in to replace series creator Frank Darabont in the show’s second season.
Mazzara appeared on a panel alongside Lost’s Damon Lindelof at the NATPE/Content First Conference this week where, as Deadline reports, he briefly commented on the controversy, essentially directing reporters to speak with AMC if they want definitive answers. “When people involved with the show are looking at the long-term plan, you know, they want something different. And what those differences are, you’d have to ask AMC,” Mazzara said.
Adding, “I was a hired gun coming in to support the creator of the show and, through odd circumstances, I ended up becoming the showrunner. I was just glad that I was able to contribute and not mess up the show, I see that as a win.”
As mentioned, the series has enjoyed both critical acclaim and record-breaking ratings under Mazzara’s watch, as such, his exit came as a particular shock. It has been rumored that Mazzara was removed at comic-book writer/producer Robert Kirkman’s request. Addressing some of those claims, the former showrunner said, “When you are the creator you can say this is what the show is. I didn’t create the show, I didn’t create the comic book so I was just glad I was able to contribute,”
Lindelof, for his part, added a perspective as a former showrunner on a hit series. “I don’t know what the climate’s like at that show or at AMC, there’s different culture at every network,” he said. “But I do think that there’s a bit of misconception in that if a show is doing very very well that there’s a laissez-Faire attitude about ‘well, they must be doing something right so we’re going to leave them alone.’”
The Star Trek Into Darkness and Prometheus scribe recalled the pressure that followed Lost’s successful debut on ABC. “Suddenly there was seven executives I’d never met before and it was more like ‘Oh my God, don’t f*** it up!’” he said. “We’re on the creative side of it but it’s a business. And the most expensive thing you can do on a television show is produce three seasons of it and get cancelled,” Lindelof said. At which point the pair, reportedly, nodded in agreement.
