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2018 TV Premiere Dates / Schedules for AMC, Starz, ABC, & THE WALKING DEAD Renewed

Jeffrey Dean Morgan The Walking Dead Hearts Still Beating

2018 Premiere Dates and Schedules for AMC, Starz, ABC plus The Walking Dead Renewed

With 2018 beginning, renewals are being announced. Premiere dates and television air date schedules are being released. Once such announcement that everyone was expecting had to do with The Walking Dead. The Walking Dead has been renewed for a ninth season. Even with its slip in ratings this season, The Walking Dead is still a titan on the small screen.

It’s not the decline in ratings that bothers fans. It’s the decline in writing, certain events being stretched out (Glenn’s death), and other things making no sense (Sasha saying she wanted to kill Negan all last season, finally being in a small room alone with him with a knife at her feet, and doing nothing).

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Angela Kang has now been appointed The Walking Dead showrunner while current showrunner Scott M. Gimple has been promoted to Chief Content Officer of The Walking Dead television universe.

Stan Against Evil Renewed for IFC for Season 3

Stan Against Evil has been renewed for a third season by IFC. I have not watched the show yet but I doubt it would be getting a third season pickup if it was not highly rated. My So-Called Life was a critical darling but its low ratings got the show axed after one season.

Stan Against Evil was created, written, and executive produced by Dana Goul and stars John C. McGinley and Janet Varney.

AMC 2018 premiere dates, plot synopses, and casts for McMafia, Fear the Walking Dead, and Into the Badlands

MCMAFIA
Monday, February 26 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT

AMC’s groundbreaking new international thriller McMafia is an eight-part series created by Hossein Amini (The Snowman, Our Kind of Traitor) and James Watkins (Black Mirror, The Take) and inspired by Misha Glenny’s best-selling book of the same name. The series charts Alex Godman’s (James Norton) journey as he is drawn deeper and deeper into the world of organized crime. As the English-raised son of Russian exiles with a mafia history, Alex has spent his life trying to escape the shadow of that criminal past, building his own legitimate business and forging a life with his girlfriend Rebecca (Juliet Rylance). But when his family’s past returns to threaten them, Alex is forced to confront his values to protect those he loves. What starts out as a story of survival and revenge becomes an epic tale of a man’s struggle against the lures of corruption in the modern world and in himself. Impressive and intimate, glamorous and gritty, McMafia is both global in scale and forensic in detail.

In addition to Norton and Rylance, the series stars David Strathairn (The Bourne Ultimatum, Good Night, and Good Luck), Faye Marsay (Love Nina, Game of Thrones), Aleksey Serebryakov (The Method, Leviathan) and Maria Shukshina (Yolki 3, Terrorist Ivanona), McMafia is co-produced by the BBC, AMC and Cuba Pictures, in association with Twickenham Studios, and distributed internationally by BBC Worldwide.

THE TERROR
Monday, March 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

As previously announced, The Terror, from executive producers Ridley Scott, David Kajganich and Soo Hugh, prepares to take viewers on a harrowing journey with a two-hour series premiere. Inspired by a true story, The Terror centers on the Royal Navy’s perilous voyage into uncharted territory as the crew attempts to discover the Northwest Passage. Faced with treacherous conditions, limited resources, dwindling hope and fear of the unknown, the crew is pushed to the brink of extinction. Frozen, isolated and stuck at the end of the earth, The Terror highlights all that can go wrong when a group of men, desperate to survive, struggle not only with the elements, but with each other.

The ten-episode series stars Jared Harris (The Crown, Mad Men) as Captain Francis Crozier, Tobias Menzies (Outlander) as Captain James Fitzjames, Ciarán Hinds (Game of Thrones) as Sir John Franklin, Paul Ready (Cuffs) as Dr. Harry Goodsir, Adam Nagaitis (Suffragette) as Cornelius Hickey, Nive Nielsen (The New World) as Lady Silence and Ian Hart (Neverland) as Thomas Blanky.

The Terror is produced by Scott Free, Emjag Productions and Entertainment 360 in association with AMC Studios. In addition to Kajganich and Hugh, the series is executive produced by Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, Alexandra Milchan, Scott Lambert and Guymon Casady.

FEAR THE WALKING DEAD Season Four
Sunday, April 15 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT
NOTE: Subsequent episodes will air at 9:00pm ET/PT beginning April 22

In season four of Fear the Walking Dead, we will see the world of Madison Clark (Kim Dickens) and her family through new eyes — the eyes of Morgan Jones (Lennie James), joining the story from the world of The Walking Dead. The characters’ immediate past mixes with an uncertain present of struggle and discovery as they meet new friends, foes and threats. They fight for each other, against each other and against a legion of the dead to somehow build an existence against the crushing pressure of lives coming apart. There will be darkness and light; terror and grace; the heroic, mercenary, and craven, all crashing together towards a new reality for Fear the Walking Dead.

Produced by AMC Studios, Fear the Walking Dead is executive produced by Scott M. Gimple, showrunners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg, as well as Robert Kirkman, David Alpert, Gale Anne Hurd and Greg Nicotero.

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INTO THE BADLANDS Season Three
Sunday, April 22 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT

Season three of Into the Badlands finds Sunny (Daniel Wu of Tomb Raider) living off the grid, doing his best to provide for his infant son, Henry, in the wake of Veil’s death. It is only when Henry contracts a mysterious illness that Sunny must join forces with Bajie (Nick Frost of Shaun of the Dead) and journey back into the Badlands, where The Widow (Emily Beecham of Daphne) and Baron Chau (Eleanor Matsuura of Wonder Woman) are entrenched in a drawn-out war that has destabilized the entire region. No longer supported by Tilda (Ally Ioannides of Parenthood) or Waldo (Stephen Lang of Avatar), The Widow must find new allies in Lydia (Orla Brady of Fringe) and in Nathaniel Moon (Sherman Augustus of Westworld) — the former regent who lost his hand to Sunny and Bajie in Season two. But when a mysterious nomadic leader called Pilgrim (Babou Ceesay of Guerilla) arrives in the Badlands on a mission to restore Azra and usher in a new era of “peace,” old enemies must band together to defend the Badlands.

The series also stars Aramis Knight (Enders Game) as M.K., Lorraine Toussaint (Orange Is the New Black) as Cressida, Ella-Rae Smith (Clique) as Nix, Lewis Tan (Iron Fist) as Gaius and Dean-Charles Chapman (Game of Thrones) as Castor.

From AMC Studios, Into the Badlands was created by executive producers, showrunners and writers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Smallville) and is executive produced by Oscar-nominated producers Stacey Sher (Django Unchained) and Michael Shamberg (Contagion), along with David Dobkin (The Judge), Stephen Fung (Tai Chi Zero), Michael Taylor (TURN: Washington’s Spies) and Wu.

AMC VISIONARIES: JAMES CAMERON’S STORY OF SCIENCE FICTION
Monday, April 30 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT

AMC Visionaries: James Cameron’s Story of Science Fiction is a uniquely intimate, insiders’ look at the origins of the genre that has become a cornerstone of popular culture. Throughout each episode of the six-part television series, Academy Award-winning writer, director and producer James Cameron explores science fiction’s roots, futuristic vision and our fascination with its ideas through interviews with A-list storytellers, stars and others whose careers have defined the field, including Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Ridley Scott, Christopher Nolan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Will Smith and Sigourney Weaver, among many others. Cameron takes us on a journey of discovery and exploration, helping us understand where science fiction’s ideas came from – and where they’re taking us. AMC Visionaries: James Cameron’s Story of Science Fiction is executive produced by Cameron, Maria Wilhelm and Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver of Left/Right TV. The series is co-executive produced by showrunner Jeff Cooperman and Mike Mezaros.

“AMC Visionaries” is a year-round documentary series in which groundbreaking artists curate and author the untold stories and fascinating histories of their respective genres. In addition to the recently aired AMC Visionaries: Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics, previously announced series falling under the “AMC Visionaries” banner include the upcoming AMC Visionaries: Eli Roth’s History of Horror and AMC Visionaries: Rap Yearbook.

Starz 2018 premiere dates, plot synopses, and casts for Howards End, Vida, and Sweetbitter

HOWARDS END
STARZ Original Limited Series Howards End premieres on Sunday, April 8, 2018

Often considered E.M. Forster’s masterpiece, Howards End is the story of Margaret (Hayley Atwell) and Helen Schlegel (Philippa Coulthard), two independent and unconventional sisters seeking love and meaning as they navigate an ever-changing world. Academy Award-winning screenwriter Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea, Gangs of New York) brings a fresh take to this adaptation directed by BAFTA winner Hettie Macdonald (White Girl, Fortitude).

Matthew Macfadyen, Julia Ormond and Tracey Ullman also star in the limited series adapted for television which consists of four hour-long episodes. Howards End is a Playground production in association with City Entertainment and KippSter Entertainment.

VIDA
Sunday, May 6, 2018

Vida is a half-hour drama series focusing on two Mexican-American sisters, Emma (Mishel Prada) and Lyn (Melissa Barrera), from the Eastside of Los Angeles who couldn’t be more different or distanced from each other. Circumstances force them to return to their old neighborhood, where they are confronted by the past and surprising truth about their mother’s identity.

Tanya Saracho (How to Get Away With Murder, Looking, Girls) serves as showrunner and executive producer. Alonso Ruizpalacios (Gueros, Verde) directs the series premiere episode. Big Beach TV’s Robin Schwartz, Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub executive produce with Stephanie Langhoff (Togetherness, The Bronze, The Skeleton Twins). Emmy Award-winning Chrisann Verges (Girlboss, Getting On, Warm Springs) produces.

SWEETBITTER
Sunday, May 6, 2018

Sweetbitter tells the story of Tess (Ella Purnell), a 22-year-old who arrives in New York City ready to pursue a new life. When she finds herself interviewing for a position at one of the best restaurants in the city, she thinks she’s found a steady income and a safe place to wait. But Tess is quickly intoxicated by the chaotic, adrenalized world behind-the-scenes, tasting expensive wine, exploring dive bars, and learning who she can trust.

Sweetbitter illuminates the sensory journey of developing a palate. How the sweet, sour, salt, bitter, and umami threaten, complement and ultimately need each other so that we can learn to taste. Sweetbitter is a show about the life that happens to you while you’re waiting.

Sweetbitter is adapted from the best–selling novel of the same name by series creator Stephanie Danler who serves as executive producer and writer on the series. She is joined as an executive producer by Stu Zicherman (The Americans, The Affair, Six Degrees) who also serves as showrunner and director of the finale episode and Richard Shepard (The Matador, Dom Hemingway, Girls, Criminal Minds, Ugly Betty) who directed the series premiere episode. Plan B Entertainment’s Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Sarah Esberg also executive produce the series.

ABC 2018 Mid-season schedule

SUNDAY, MARCH 11

8:00-10:00 p.m. “American Idol”

10:00-11:00 p.m. “Deception”

MONDAY, MARCH 12

8:00-10:00 p.m. “American Idol”

TUESDAY, MARCH 13

10:00-11:00 p.m. “For The People”

THURSDAY, MARCH 22

9:00-11:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff (two-hour premiere)

TUESDAY, MARCH 27

8:00-9:00 p.m. “Roseanne” (one-hour premiere)

9:30-10:00 p.m. “Splitting Up Together”

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28

8:30-9:00 p.m. “Alex, Inc.”

THURSDAY, MARCH 29

9:00-10:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff (time-period premiere)

10:00-11:00 p.m. “Scandal” (new time)

MONDAY, APRIL 2

10:00-11:00 p.m. “The Crossing”

TUESDAY, APRIL 3

8:00-8:30 p.m. “Roseanne” (time-period premiere)

8:30-9:00 p.m. “The Middle” (new time)

THURSDAY, APRIL 26

10:00-11:00 p.m. “Quantico” (Season 3 premiere)

MONDAY, APRIL 30

8:00-10:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars” All-Athletes Edition

Leave your thoughts on 2018 Premiere Dates and Schedules for AMC, Starz, ABC plus The Walking Dead Renewed below in the comments section. Readers seeking more TV show news can visit our TV Show News Page, our TV Show News Google+ Page, and our TV Show News Facebook. Want up-to-the-minute notification? Want up-to-the-minute notifications? FilmBook staff members publish articles by Email, Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, and Facebook.

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Rollo Tomasi

Rollo Tomasi is a Connecticut-based film critic, TV show critic, news, and editorial writer. He will have a MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University in 2025. Rollo has written over 700 film, TV show, short film, Blu-ray, and 4K-Ultra reviews. His reviews are published in IMDb's External Reviews and in Google News. Previously you could find his work at Empire Movies, Blogcritics, and AltFilmGuide. Now you can find his work at FilmBook.
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