The Walking Dead is currently in its ninth season (Picture: Gene Page/AMC)

An ongoing profits dispute over The Walking Dead looks set to head to trial in 2019, five years after the initial complaint was made.

Former The Walking Dead showrunner Frank Darabont and CAA previously filed a lawsuit against AMC back in 2013, claiming the network deprived him of $280 million (£223 million) in profits via alleged self-dealing agreements and underhanded accounting.

Both sides filed motions for summary judgment back in summer 2017, with Justice Eileen Bransten, who presided over the case, making a new ruling on Monday stating key issues in the case are subject to factual dispute and should be put forward before a jury.

Creator Robert Kirkman previously filed a lawsuit against the network (Picture: AMC/Victoria Will)

Darabont helped create and executive produce the first season of the show, before being fired during the second season.




The former showrunner claims AMC should be receiving a lot more in imputed fees than they’re letting on. Instead of the $2.4 million (£1.9 million) an episode, the lawsuit suggests it should be between $20 million to $30 million (£16 million to £26 million) an episode – which Darabont seeks to claim.

Creator Robert Kirkman and a bunch of show producers also filed a similar claim against AMC last year, with the results from this case likely influencing the outcome of their dispute.

Both sides were pleased about the dispute going before a jury, however, with AMC attorney Orin Snyder (via Variety) claiming the lawsuit is ‘nothing but a money grab by CAA and the greedy Hollywood lawyers who feed off talent and are the driving force behind this suit’.

They added: ‘A jury will see right through this scheme. We appreciate the judge’s careful and thorough review of the arguments and look forward to victory at trial.’

Dale Kinsella, who represents Darabont and CAA, was similarly pleased with the result, saying: ‘We are pleased the court has denied AMC’s motion for summary judgment virtually in its entirety.

‘We will be proceeding to trial on Mr. Darabont and CAA’s claims, which now easily exceed a quarter billion dollars.’

The trial is expected to take place late 2019 at the earliest.

The Walking Dead is set to return on Sunday 10 February 2019 on AMC and Monday 11 February on Fox UK.

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