The Walking Dead creators sue AMC for 'lowballing'

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Co-creator Robert Kirkman and series producers Glen Mazzara among plaintiffs
Their claim stems from the fact that AMC owns both the studio and the network
Due to this, they argue that AMC Is potentially undercutting fees paid to talent
'It's all money being transferred within same corporate parent,' an expert said

Published: 10:41 EDT, 17 August 2017 | Updated: 12:09 EDT, 17 August 2017

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The creators of hit apocalypse drama 'The Walking Dead' are suing AMC after accusing the network of not compensating them fairly, it has been reported.

Co-creator Robert Kirkman and series producers Glen Mazzara, David Alpert and Gale Anne Hurd were among those who filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Their claim that they are being 'lowballed' stems from the fact that AMC owns both AMC Studios, the company that produces the show, and AMC network, which airs it, potentially undercutting fees paid to talent.

The creators of hit apocalypse drama 'The Walking Dead' (file photo) are suing AMC after accusing the network of not compensating them fairly

Traditionally, the studio creates the show and allows the network or channel to air it for a license fee.

The Walking Dead creators argue that, because the two are owned by the same company in this pace, AMC Studios has 'little incentive' to negotiate a higher license fee.

'Since money is changing pockets in the same pair of pants, there's an incentive for the production company and the cable channel to agree on what might be something of a lowball figure,' said Jonathan Handel, a University of Southern California's law school lecturer,

He told the Washington Post: 'Because it's all just money being transferred within the same corporate parent.'

The lawsuit in this case alleges that the money filtered down to the creators was much lower than it should have been.

As evidence, the plaintiffs showed how Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and Mad Men - all aired on AMC having been produced by outside studios - charged a higher license fee.

Co-creator Robert Kirkman and series producers Glen Mazzara, David Alpert and Gale Anne Hurd were among those who filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court (file photo of actor Norman Reedus)

The lawsuit follows another filed by the show's other co-creator Frank Darabont, who was fired in the second season

'There can be no question that, if AMC Studios and AMC Network were not part of the same conglomerate, the story would be very different,' the lawsuit stated.

But AMC has thus far dismissed it, saying in a statement: 'These kinds of lawsuits are fairly common in entertainment and they all have one thing in common — they follow success.

'Virtually every studio that has had a successful show has been the target of litigation like this, and The Walking Dead has been the #1 show on television for five years in a row, so this is no surprise.

'We have enormous respect and appreciation for these plaintiffs, and we will continue to work with them as partners, even as we vigorously defend against this baseless and predictably opportunistic lawsuit.'

The lawsuit follows another filed by the show's other co-creator Frank Darabont, who was fired in the second season.