In 2010, writer and director Frank Darabont brought the live-action The Walking Dead comic book series to AMC and launched a franchise. However, Darabont was forced to leave the series midway through the second season, sparking a decade-long legal battle with AMC. Since then, Darabont only created and directed Mob City in 2013. Now, after 11 years of retirement, Darabont explains why he returned to work on season 5 of Stranger Things.
“What really brought me out of retirement is that my wife and I really love this show,” Darabont told The Daily Beast. “Our content is now full of horrible people doing horrible things for greedy reasons, but Stranger Things has so much heart. That positivity is something I really responded to.”
Before The Walking Dead, Darabount established himself as a director of feature films such as The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Mist and The Majestic. Darabont's $200 million deal with AMC from The Walking Dead profits means he'll never have to work again if he chooses to stay retired. But he does not rule out another return.
“I didn’t miss the business, but I missed being on set with creative people,” Darabont said. “It may already be done, but we still have time.”
Darabont directed two episodes of Stranger Things season 5, while Deadpool and Wolverine's Shawn Levy directed another. The series' co-creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, also directed episodes of the final season, which will air on Netflix in 2025.