Dead City Season 3 Updates: Showrunner Change, Returning Cast & Plot Tease

You know that weird mix of relief and unease? That’s exactly how I felt when I saw Dead City got renewed for Season 3. Don’t get me wrong—I’m in. After that Season 2 finale (June 22 still lives rent-free in my head), there was no way they were just gonna leave us hanging. But then came the curveball: Eli Jorné’s out. Seth Hoffman’s in.

Wait, what?

A Big Shake-Up in the Showrunner Seat

Jorné built this whole thing. He gave us the grungy, broken-glass version of Manhattan and made Maggie and Negan tolerable—sometimes even likable—together. And now he's stepping back? Kinda feels like your friend hosted a killer party and then dipped before the after-hours madness.

So Who Is Seth Hoffman?

Let’s talk Seth Hoffman. The guy’s got pedigree—"Too Far Gone", "JSS", "No Way Out"—he helped shape some of the most chaotic, gut-punchy episodes from the OG Walking Dead. If there’s anyone who gets this world, it’s him. Still, taking over mid-spin on a story this tense? That’s a bold move. Hopefully not a doomed one.

AMC’s president Dan McDermott gave the usual thank-yous and buzzwords—"thriving universe", "new corner of the apocalypse"—but what actually matters is this: Hoffman’s writing the next chapter for Maggie and Negan, and if he messes it up, fans will riot.

Of Course Maggie and Negan Are In—But What About Everyone Else?

Look, Dead City without Maggie and Negan isn’t even a thing. So yeah—Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan are back, and they’re still executive producing, too. No surprises there.

But beyond that? It’s way too early to know who else is returning. That said, Armstrong (Gaius Charles), The Dama (Lisa Emery), and Maggie’s son Hershel (Logan Kim) all feel like strong bets. Season 2 left their stories hanging—some more dangerously than others—so here’s hoping we see familiar faces again... and not just in flashbacks or walker form.

New Season, New City Chaos

Production kicks off this fall in Boston, which, I mean… cool? Not NYC, but maybe that’s part of the story shift.

Now here’s where it gets interesting: the official plot says Maggie and Negan will finally put their mess behind them and try to build a “thriving community” in Manhattan. Thriving?! With walkers and warlords still stomping around? 'Sure, Jan'.

But the twist: “chaos begins to rise” (shocker), and they’ll have to face whether their past baggage is gonna sink everything. Translation: expect betrayal, trauma callbacks, and probably at least one major explosion!

Final Thoughts

Honestly, I’m hyped. Nervous, but hyped. If Hoffman can bring the grit and emotional gut-punches from the main show—and not turn this into a weird redemption soap—Season 3 could hit hard.