The Walking Dead was just renewed for a sixth season. Its fifth season hasn’t even premiered yet

The Walking Dead is such a big hit that it has just been renewed for a sixth season — and its fifth season hasn't even premiered yet!

Based on the comic book series of the same name, The Walking Dead has been extremely popular since its 2010 premiere on AMC. Since then, it's gone on to become the highest-rated show in cable history, as well as the top television show for 18-49 year-olds, the viewership category producers and advertisers care most about.

In a statement released today, AMC president Charlie Collier thanked Robert Kirkman, creator of the comics; Scott Gimple, the current showrunner; and all those whose hard work "brings this compelling world and these rich characters to life." He didn't thank Frank Darabont, who developed and shepherded the show to television, before being removed by AMC in the second season. He is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with the network over his share of the series' profits. (The series has gone through one other showrunner between Darabont's and Gimple's tenures.)

TWD returns Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern with an episode titled "No Sanctuary." That might sound ominous, but now we know at least some of these people are going to make it another year.

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