Stranger Things Season 5 Brought The Walking Dead’s Frank Darabont Out Of Retirement, Here’s Why

In 2010, writer and director Frank Darabont brought The Walking Dead comic book series to live-action on AMC and launched a franchise. However, Darabont was forced out of the show midway through the second season, sparking a decade-long court battle with AMC. Since then, Darabont has only created and directed Mob City in 2013. Now, after 11 years in retirement, Darabont is explaining why he came back to work on Stranger Things Season 5.

“What really dragged me out of retirement was that my wife and I really love this show,” Darabont told The Daily Beast. “Our content now is so filled with horrible people doing horrible things for greedy reasons, but Stranger Things has so much heart. That positivity is something I really responded to.”

Prior to The Walking Dead, Darabount established himself as a director on feature films including The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Mist, and The Majestic. Darabont’s $200 million settlement with AMC over The Walking Dead’s profits means that he never has to work again, if he chooses to stay in retirement. But he didn’t rule out another return.

“I haven’t missed the business, but I have missed being on set with creative people,” said Darabont. “It may well be one and done, but we’ve still got time.”

Darabont helmed two episodes of Stranger Things Season 5, while Deadpool and Wolverine’s Shawn Levy directed another. Series co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer also directed episodes of the final season, which will premiere on Netflix in 2025.