The Walking Dead boss Angela Kang has reacted to the surprise news that saw the spinoff series being announced before final episodes of the show aired.
In an exclusive interview with Digital Spy, the showrunner said that the decision to announce the Maggie and Negan spin-off series The Walking Dead: Dead City was a "surprise" as it revealed their characters' fates ahead of the finale.
Speaking of the decision, Kang said it was not up to her but instead the decision was made by the studios and networks.
Related: Walking Dead boss teases change for Rick/Michonne spin-off
"It’s just important to bear in mind that studios and networks – they really determine the timing of announcements, '' said Kang. "That is just above the pay grades of those of us who are working on the creative."
According to the showrunner, the announcement was sprung on them at the last minute and it was clear it would affect the story.
"What it affects for us in the story is… there are certain things in the story that are going to play differently, because now you know that they are off limits."
Though when the future of Negan and Maggie was revealed, it became obvious they wouldn't die in the series, Kang said there was still an element of emotional jeopardy.
Related: Here's why these actors left The Walking Dead
"I think that there’s always jeopardy for the characters," she explained. "No matter what, because even if you know that they aren’t going to die, there’s a lot that you still don’t know about how it’s going to play out.
"Like, what are going to be the emotional consequences for them, and what are going to be the consequences for people around them," she added.
"That’s the part that I would encourage people to lean into – if they’re a little surprised by that being spoiled for them."
The Walking Dead season 11 airs on AMC in the US and STAR on Disney+ in the UK.
![The Walking Dead The Complete Seasons 1-10 Boxset [DVD] [2021]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1641396648-51p56wQDuzS._SL500_.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "The Walking Dead The Complete Seasons 1-10 Boxset [DVD] [2021]")
![Fear The Walking Dead The Complete Seasons 1-6 Boxset [DVD] [] [2020]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1641396723-51D5TpwavLL._SL500_.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "Fear The Walking Dead The Complete Seasons 1-6 Boxset [DVD] [] [2020]")
![The Walking Dead: World Beyond Season 1 [DVD] [2020]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1641396771-51dps9qaknL._SL500_.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "The Walking Dead: World Beyond Season 1 [DVD] [2020]")
The Walking Dead: Daryl Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure
Reporter, Digital Spy
Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy.
A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre.
In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.
After teaching in England and South Korea, David turned to writing in Germany, where he covered everything from superhero movies to the Berlin Film Festival.
In 2019, David moved to London to join Digital Spy, where he could indulge his love of comics, horror and LGBTQ+ storytelling as Deputy TV Editor, and later, as Acting TV Editor.
David has spoken on numerous LGBTQ+ panels to discuss queer representation and in 2020, he created the Rainbow Crew interview series, which celebrates LGBTQ+ talent on both sides of the camera via video content and longform reads.
Beyond that, David has interviewed all your faves, including Henry Cavill, Pedro Pascal, Olivia Colman, Patrick Stewart, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Dornan, Regina King, and more — not to mention countless Drag Race legends.
As a freelance entertainment journalist, David has bylines across a range of publications including Empire Online, Radio Times, INTO, Highsnobiety, Den of Geek, The Digital Fix and Sight & Sound.
