AMC has announced that renewal of acclaimed drama Better Call Saul, Walking Dead spinoff Fear the Walking Dead, and international acquisition McMafia.
“In an environment where viewer choice is almost unlimited, the success of these shows is especially meaningful, with characters and stories that our viewers connect with and return to season after season,” AMC president of originals David Madden said. “It’s a privilege to continue collaborating with and sharing the vision of the talented creatives behind these series, and we’re excited to start exploring the next chapter in the lives of these unique and complex characters.”
The renewal for Better Call Saul comes ahead of the show’s upcoming fourth season premiere on Monday, August 6th. The Breaking Bad spinoff has become one of AMC’s reliable awards season players while garnering strong reviews and keeping them in the Bad-verse long after the original signed off. AMC will be using Saul to launch new drama Lodge 49, which is about an ex-surfer who joins a fraternal lodge following his father’s death.
Fear the Walking Dead has been undergoing a major creative overhaul recently, with original cast member Kim Dickens one of several key figures to depart the series. Ratings are still in the upper echelon of cable, though, and the series is set to welcome Walking Dead recurring player Lennie James in coming episodes, which should give the show a boost thanks to Morgan’s popularity and the increased ties to the mothership.
Inspired by the Misha Glenny book McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld, McMafia follows Alex Goodman (James Norton), a British-raised son of a Russian mob boss whose father is trying to escape the world of organized crime once and for all. When the series was renewed by the BBC in May, it was confirmed that season two would feature eight episodes.
Yet to be determined are the fates of summer dramas Dietland, Humans, and Preacher.
