Like the people who die on the show, The Walking Dead can conclude, but not end. AMC has announced that The Walking Dead show will end in late 2022 with an expanded season 11 that will contain 24 episodes. Before that, the season 10 finale will air on October 4, 2020, which was delayed due to COVID-19. Then season 10 will get 6 bonus episodes to air in early 2021. That means there are 31 episodes left in total.

Accompanying this news is the announcement that two new series are on the way. One show will center around the popular characters Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier. It was created by Chief Content Officer Scott M. Gimple and Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang, who will be the showrunner on the new series. That series will debut in 2023.

Gimple is developing the other show, titled Tales of the Walking Dead. It is described as “an episodic anthology with individual episodes or arcs of episodes focused on new or existing characters, backstories, or other standalone experiences.” This means that characters who have died on The Walking Dead could return and be shown in new stories during their time on the show or even before they were introduced in the regular series.

“It's been 10 years gone by; what lies ahead are two more to come and stories and stories to tell beyond that. What’s clear is that this show has been about the living, made by a passionate cast, team of writer/producers, producers, and crew, bringing to life the vision put forth by Robert Kirkman in his brilliant comic – and supported by the best fans in the world,” Gimple said in a statement. “We have a lot of thrilling story left to tell on TWD, and then, this end will be a beginning of more Walking Dead – brand new stories and characters, familiar faces and places, new voices, and new mythologies. This will be a grand finale that will lead to new premieres. Evolution is upon us. The Walking Dead lives.”

“I look forward to digging in with our brilliant writers, producers, directors, cast and crew to bring this epic final chapter of Robert Kirkman’s story to life for our fans over the next two years,” Kang said. “The Walking Dead flagship series has been my creative home for a decade and so it’s bittersweet to bring it to an end, but I could not be more excited to be working with Scott Gimple and AMC to develop a new series for Daryl and Carol. Working with Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride has been a highlight of my career and I’m thrilled that we get to keep telling stories together.”

The news of the Carol and Daryl show confirms that the two will survive the conflict with Beta and the Whisperers. It did not, however, specify if they will continue on The Walking Dead through the series conclusion. Both stars also commented on their upcoming spinoff show.

“I feel incredibly honored to be a part of The Walking Dead. This show changed my life and career and everyone involved has truly been a family for me over the last decade,” Reedus said through AMC. “I’m thankful for AMC’s love and support and know there’s so much more story to tell and so much more to bring the best fans in the world. Daryl’s relationship with Carol has always been my favorite relationship on the show (sorry Rick). I love the way these characters interact and relate to each other on so many levels and can’t wait to see where their ride goes from here.”

"Of course, I’ve always enjoyed working so closely with Norman throughout these many seasons. In playing Carol, and as a viewer of the show, I’ve also long been intrigued with ‘Daryl and Carol,’ and by what so early on between them, even then, felt somehow bound,” McBride said in her statement. “Their shared history is long, and each’s own personal fight to survive, even longer – the more obvious aspect of what has kept them close and loyal. But there is also a rather mysterious aspect to their fondness for one another that I enjoy, and their playfulness when the world permits. I’m very curious! Angela has a way of shaking things up in great and unexpected ways. She’s like a kid playing with the dimmer switch! I’m very excited!”

The season 10 finale will air on October 4 and the third scripted series The Walking Dead: World Beyond, will premiere that night. Fear the Walking Dead returns for its sixth season a week later on October 11.