Dave Erickson files suit, alleging that the network is claiming a deficit on the series that prevents him from profiting from his participation
Co-author Fear The Walking Dead sued AMCwhich airs The Walking Dead spin-off, arguing that he could not profit from the series due to the network's profit-sharing payments.
Dave Erickson, who co-created the spin-off with The Walking Dead Creator Robert Kirkman, who served as showrunner for the show's first three seasons, alleged a breach of contract. lawsuit Wednesday in California state court. Hollywood Reporter reportsclaiming that AMC has consistently stated that it is reporting a revenue shortfall from the series. Because of this, Erickson claims he was unable to receive any support payments promised in his contract for 10 years. Fear the Walking Dead was on air.
“Dave Erickson created a huge hit for AMC in Fear the Walking Deadextension The Walking Dead Universe and strengthening AMC as a zombie network,” said Aaron Liskin and Nick Saltman, Erickson lawyers. Hollywood Reporter. Despite the show's “extraordinary success” – Fear the Walking Dead was one of AMC's most popular shows when it first premiered: “Mr. Erickson has not received a dollar of profit from AMC, and without this action he never will.”
Erickson's lawsuit also alleges that fellow co-creator Kirkman and the show's executive producers have since changed their contracts to receive backend payments, but his contract remains the same despite AMC's alleged promises to change the “backend definition.”
An AMC Networks representative did not immediately respond to Rolling Stonerequest for comments.
This isn't the first time AMC has faced a lawsuit from one of its showrunners. The Walking Dead: Frank Darabont, who co-created the original series with Kirkman. previously sued AMC for breach of contract in 2013, accusing them of similarly capping its licensing fee “in perpetuity at no less than 65 percent of the series' production costs or $1.45 million per episode, meaning there would be a significant shortfall in each episode produced for the life of the series” which is “clearly intended to ensure that [Darabont and CAA] You’ll never see that first dollar.”
According to Hollywood ReporterDarabont and AMC eventually settled the lawsuit for $200 million; Erickson hired the same law firm that represented Darabont in his lawsuit.
