‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Lawsuit: Co-Creator Sues AMC

Fear the Walking dead Co-Creator Sues AMC Over Profit Participation

AMC Networks is facing a new legal challenge from a key figure behind one of its most successful franchises. Dave Erickson,the co-creator adn former showrunner of Fear the Walking Dead,filed a breach of contract lawsuit on Wednesday,alleging he has been denied profit participation payments for the past decade.

Erickson, who developed the Walking Dead spinoff alongside Robert Kirkman and served as showrunner for its first three seasons, claims AMC has consistently reported deficit earnings for the series, effectively preventing him from receiving backend payments promised in his contract. According to court documents filed in California state court and reported by the Hollywood reporter, Erickson asserts that despite the show’s “remarkable success,” he has not received “a single dollar in profits” from AMC.

A Decade Without Revenue

The lawsuit centers on AMC’s financial reporting practices for Fear the Walking Dead. Erickson’s legal team argues that the network has artificially maintained a financial deficit, shielding profits and preventing payouts to those entitled to a share. “Dave Erickson created a massive hit for AMC in Fear the Walking Dead, expanding The Walking Dead Universe and cementing AMC as the zombie network,” stated Erickson’s lawyers, Aaron liskin and Nick Soltman, to the Hollywood Reporter.

The complaint further alleges that Kirkman and other executive producers have since renegotiated their contracts to include backend payments, while Erickson’s original agreement remains unchanged, despite alleged assurances from AMC regarding modifications to the “backend definition.”

Did you know? – Profit participation, or “backend” payments, are a common component of TV showrunner contracts, offering a share of revenue beyond initial salary. these payments are typically triggered when a show becomes profitable.

Echoes of a Past Dispute

This legal battle is not the first time AMC has faced accusations of unfair financial dealings with the creators of The Walking Dead universe. In 2013, Frank Darabont, co-creator of the original The Walking dead series, filed a similar breach of contract lawsuit against AMC. Darabont accused the network of capping license fees in a way that guaranteed he and his agency would never see profit participation.

That dispute was ultimately settled for $200 million, and notably, Erickson has retained the same law firm that represented Darabont in that case. The parallel between the two cases raises questions about AMC’s consistent practices regarding profit sharing with its showrunners.

Pro tip: – Showrunners often negotiate for a percentage of net profits, which are calculated after production and marketing costs are deducted. Networks have meaningful control over these calculations.

AMC networks did not respond to a request for comment from Rolling Stone at the time of publication. The outcome of Erickson’s lawsuit could have significant implications for how networks structure profit-sharing agreements with creatives and could possibly set a precedent for future disputes within the entertainment industry.

Reader question: – Do you think networks should be more transparent about how they calculate profits shared with creatives? What changes could ensure fairer deals?