Glen Mazzara Leaves The Walking Dead After Season 3 And Sparks Controversy/Robert Kirkman Answers To Controversy

As you may know,while announcing that The Walking Dead has been picked up for a fourth season, AMC shockingly announced that Glen Mazzara will be leaving The Walking Dead TV Show as it’s showrunner after Season 3.

Here is the official announcement:

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.

Mazzara went on to say later that it was just time to move on:

My time as showrunner on ‘The Walking Dead’ has been an amazing experience, but after I finish season 3, it’s time to move on. I have told the stories I wanted to tell and connected with our fans on a level that I never imagined. It doesn’t get much better than that. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey.

Gale Anne Hurd also gave her comments about Mazzara’s departure:

“I am appreciative and grateful to Glen for his hard work on ‘The Walking Dead.’ I am supportive of AMC and Glen’s decision and know that the series is in great hands with one of the most talented and dedicated casts and crews in the business. I look forward to the show’s continued success.”

And then finally Robert Kirkman gave his thoughts about Mazzara leaving:

“I am in full support of both AMC and Glen Mazzara in the decision they have come to and believe the parties came to this decision in the best interest of the future of the show. I thank Glen for his hard work and appreciate his many contributions to ‘The Walking Dead’ and look forward to working with him as we complete post production on Season 3. I am also excited to begin work on another spectacular season of this show that I know means so much to so many people. This show has always been the result of a wide range of extremely talented men and women working tirelessly to produce their best work collectively. I believe the future is bright for ‘The Walking Dead.’ Thank you to the fans for your continued support.”

But the departure has also sparked some major controversy mainly from Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy) and Shawn Ryan (The Shield). Sutter gave his thoughts about Mazzara’s departure and he didn’t take too kindly to it.

“AMC is run by small-minded, bottom-line thinkers who have no appreciation or gratitude for the effort of it’s creative personnel. Time and time again we see events like what happened today with Glen Mazzara. They continue to disrespect writers, shit on their audience and bury their network. Mazzara took the work-in-progress that was “Walking Dead” and turned it into a viable TV show with a future. Without him, that future is dim. Showrunners are not development executives, we’re not cookiecutter douchebags that you plug into a preexisting model. TWD will suffer. Even Zombies need consistency. “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad” will be gone soon. So will AMC. I hope their fucking stock takes a dive and the shareholders line up Sapan, Dolan and Collier and shit in their open hands. Cunts.”

Robert Kirkman responded to the controversy by saying that while Kurt Sutter is brilliant and Sons of Anarchy is a good show Sutter shouldn’t speak out about what he doesn’t know.

“@sutterink is brilliant and Sons is my favorite show on TV. Still, it’s upsetting to see him ranting about things he knows nothing about,”

And finally Sutter responded with this:

“AMC sent me a gift basket filled with sour tastes, forbidden fruit, broken promises and the marinated tongue used to lick kirkman’s a**,”

-Dane
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