In a move that even AMC president Charlie Collier called "one of the most anti-climactic renewal announcements ever," the network has officially renewed "The Walking Dead" for a fifth season. In a somewhat more surprising move, current showrunner Scott Gimple will retain that role in Season 5.
"This is a show that has erased traditional distinctions between cable and broadcast," Collier said via press release. "Its expanding base of passionate fans has grown every season, most recently - and most notably - with the season four premiere earlier this month, which broke viewership records for the series and became the biggest non-sports telecast in cable history. On behalf of the incredible team on both sides of the camera, thank you to the fans and here's to more Dead."
With Gimple already on board to return as showrunner, he's well on his way to holding the record for heading up the critical darling -- original showrunner Frank Darabont left the show after a single season while Glen Mazzara left the post at the end of the third season, having held the position for nearly two years.
The fourth season of "The Walking Dead" debuted to record numbers and has continued to hold up in the ratings -- even against Peyton Manning's return to the Colts stadium on Sunday Night Football.
"The Walking Dead" continues Sunday, November 3 with the episode "Indifference."
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