Glen Mazzara Steps Down As Showrunner Of The Walking Dead

This is becoming a pattern.

By Rudie Obias | Updated

This article is more than 2 years old

The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead will receive another drastic change when it comes back to wrap up season three in February. The good news is that the cable network renewed the series for season four. The bad news is that the series current showrunner, Glen Mazzara, will not be part of the show at the end of season three.

According to Deadline, Glen Mazzara and AMC are parting ways after season three concludes. The decision to go forward without Mazzara appears to be amicable and polite. Although the two parties disagreed about the direction of the upcoming season, Mazzara will stay on to finish out the rest of season three. Here’s AMC’s statement.

Today, AMC announces the season 4 pick-up of The Walking Dead.

AMC also jointly announces with Glen Mazzara today that for future seasons, the two parties have mutually decided to part ways. Glen guided the series creatively for seasons 2 and 3. AMC is grateful for his hard work. We are both proud of our shared success.

Both parties acknowledge that there is a difference of opinion about where the show should go moving forward, and conclude that it is best to part ways. This decision is amicable and Glen will remain on for post-production on season 3B as showrunner and executive producer.

This is becoming a pattern. AMC and The Walking Dead’s first showrunner, Frank Darabont, parted ways midway through season two. It seems like AMC doesn’t care who runs the series because it comes from such a rich source material that they can mine for years. As long as ratings are high and people are killing zombies on The Walking Dead, AMC will be very happy.

There is some concern that the quality of The Walking Dead might take a dip after season three. Mazzara was responsible for the series’ new fevered pace and the decision to kill off key members of the cast of characters. He made the series exciting again. Perhaps when Robert Kirkman wraps up the comic book, he could possibly fill in as the role of showrunner on The Walking Dead. No one knows this world better than the original comic book’s creator.

The Walking Dead will return to wrap up season three on February 10, 2013 on AMC.