Back in January,Frank Darabont, who created AMC’s hit seriesThe Walking Deadbefore he wasunceremoniously firedin the middle of the second season, revealed in a deposition why he was actually fired from the hit series. The deposition was part of a major lawsuit the writer-director brought against AMC to reclaim the millions of dollars in profits he was owed after his firing, and now we know exactly how much he’s seeking. New documents released today reveal thatFrank Darabontis seeking a whopping $280 million from AMC.
The Hollywood Reporterrevealed that the discovery phase of the trial is now over, andFrank Darabont’s team issued a certificate of trial readiness on Monday, where it was stated that the filmmaker is seeking $280 million in damages. Thelawsuitcontends that the network robbedFrank Darabontof profits by licensing the show to its cable affiliate for a smaller fee, which was supposedly designed to ensure profit participants would never receive any money from the deal. Here’s what AMC had to say in a brief statement regarding the lawsuit.
“Plaintiffs' damages claim has no basis in reality and we will continue to vigorously defend against this lawsuit.”
AMC is arguing that they have the right to negotiate an “imputed fee.“Frank Darabont’s initial deal with AMC would have paid him as much as 10% ofThe Walking Dead’s profits after deductions. The lawsuit will also address the creator and original showrunner’s firing, which also ties into the profits he would have received.Frank Darabont’s legal team is assessing that AMC didn’t count him as “fully vested” in the second season, despiteFrank Darabont’s claims that he worked on all of the Season 2 episodes.Glen Mazarrawas brought on to replaceFrank Darabont, but he left the show after Season 3. The network promotedScott M. Gimplefrom staff writer to showrunner, and he has remained at the helm of the show since Season 4.
In his explosive deposition from January,Frank Darabont’s successor,Glenn Mazarra, revealed that there was a “personal rift” betweenFrank DarabontandThe Walking Deadcomic book creatorRobert Kirkman.Glenn Mazarratestified thatFrank Darabonttold AMC he needed some time to figure out the Season 2 finale, and the network wouldn’t give him that time before he was let go.Frank Darabontalso claimed that the network slashed the show’s budget from $3.4 million per episode to $3 million per episode in the second season.
AfterGlen Mazarraleft the show in Season 3, AMC was blasted byShawn RyanandKurt Sutter, who both worked withGlen Mazarraon FX’s hit crime dramaThe Shield. Ever sinceScott M. Gimpletook the reins on the show, there haven’t been any behind-the-scenes shake-ups that we know about, asThe Walking Deadgets ready to debut its seventh season on AMC Sunday, October 23. As for this trial, it may not happen any time soon. Now that the discovery phase is over, both sides will move into summary judgment, where even more details aboutFrank Darabont’s time on the show will be revealed. The judge in the case, Justice Eileen Bransten, revealed at a press conference that her 2017 schedule was completely booked, so this trial won’t begin until 2018, at the earliest.
