The Walking Dead: Dead Cityhas officially been renewed for a third season, but Maggie and Negan’s spinoff just got even better thanks to a major update regarding the project. AfterDead Cityseason 2’s eventful ending, it looked inevitable that the series would be back for another installment; it was just a matter of when.
No release date has been confirmed, but the show’s return has been greenlit, meaningMaggie and Negan’s New York adventure will have at least one more chapter. There were already several majorstory teases forDead Cityseason 3set up in the recent finale, meaning the plot will presumably pick up exactly where it left off.
While some fans may be worried this could make things feel a little predictable and somewhat stale, I’m confident this isn’t the case thanks to one key detail. Alongside the confirmation of a third season,The Walking Deadannounced that Seth Hoffman would be returning to the franchise asDead City’s showrunner, which is massive news for the series.
Having been part ofThe Walking Deadduring some of its best years, Hoffman left the franchise as a producer and writer after season 6but is finally making his return as part ofDead City. Although the project has managed to succeed so far, there is no denying Hoffman’s addition makes the spinoff’s third season even stronger.
He’s got plenty of experience when it comes to the zombie franchise and is aWalking Deadveteran, making him the perfect fit to take over such an important role. His history suggests that he knows the characters well and will do Maggie and Negan justice while injecting some much-needed fresh life into their ongoing story.
In addition, he will hopefully attract some exciting new names toDead Cityseason 3’s cast, helping introduce some fresh survivors to the spinoff. As a result, Hoffman’s return provides plenty of reasons to be excited for long-term fans ofThe Walking Dead, and his vast experience with the series indicates that the project is in safe hands.
He Wrote Classics Like “Too Far Gone” & “No Way Out”
Working onThe Walking Deadduring its most popular era doesn’t instantly prove Hoffman will elevateDead City, but his resume is hard not to be impressed by. He wrote some ofThe Walking Dead’s best episodes, including “Too Far Gone”, “No Way Out”, “JSS”, “Conquer”, and “Not Tomorrow Yet”, all of which received tremendous reviews.
Even some of his less iconic episodes, like “Claimed”, “The Distance”, and “Us” are still of an extremely high standard, proving Hoffman is an extremely talented writer.
Even some of his less iconic episodes, like “Claimed”, “The Distance”, and “Us” are still of an extremely high standard, proving Hoffman is an extremely talented writer. Being put in the position of showrunner does present more challenges, but if he decides to write the majority of season 3, his past work fills me with confidence.
“Too Far Gone” is a perfect example of how well he can captureThe Walking Dead’s explosive action, while"Too Far Gone" illustrates Hoffman’s ability to create tension alongside expert dialogue. There are also countless great character moments throughout his episodes, meaning he will hopefully tap into the elements that make Maggie and Negan such compelling survivors.
The fact that he was a producer on every episode throughout seasons 4-6 - arguably the franchise’s most successful period - only continues to paint him in a good light, and assuming he can replicate this magic withDead Cityseason 3, there is no reason not to have faith in Hoffman based on his impressive track record.
In terms of quality,Dead Cityhas held up relatively well over the course of its two seasons, getting more positive than negative reviews from critics. However, the audience seems much more divided. While the show boasts a more modest score on IMDb, the public gave both seasons a Rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting it is far from perfect.
The overall reception toDead Cityhas remained fairly mixed throughout its entire run, with some people believing it is the bestWalking Deadspinoff, while others feel it leaves a lot to be desired. Maggie and Negan’s dynamic has also run its course and needs a change, something Hoffman can hopefully provide.
His innovative ideas could be a breath of fresh air for the series and make thespinoff improve uponThe Walking Dead’s main showin some areas, helping it achieve its full potential. Of course, the story can’t deviate too much given how much set-up is already there for season 3, but Hoffman’s creativity should take it in a new direction.
Considering how conflicted fans are about the project,bringing back a veteran who understands what they want may allowDead Cityto appeal to a wider audience and potentially capture older viewerswho may not have liked the initial look of the series.
Despite New Babylon taking over Manhattan, it feels likeDead City’s story is nearing its conclusion, suggesting season 3 could be the last.Maggie and Negan’s dynamic has been going on for a long time and has become relatively tiring, meaning one final team-up feels like the best way to wrap up their arc.
Dead Cityseason 2 essentially ended Maggie and Negan’s feud, making it hard to see this ongoing journey continuing past a third season. That said, recruiting Hoffman for a single project would feel strange, and unlessThe Walking Deadplans on using him for more shows,Dead Cityseason 4 remains a possibility.
The Walking Dead: Dead Cityseason 2 concluded on July 06, 2025, and is currently available to stream on AMC+.
It’s unclear if the franchise is committed to spinoffs for the foreseeable future or if they plan on making a crossover soon, but this could also determine the plans forDead City’s future, making it almost impossible to predict when exactly the series will end.
The Walking Dead: Dead City
Cast
A spin-off/sequel of the dramatic horror series, The Walking Dead: Dead City follows two significant characters from the main series - Maggie and Negan.
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is a television series that premiered on July 22, 2025. It follows Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. He embarks on a journey to locate his family, encountering various survivors amidst the chaos.
