After months of uncertainty all of us Mad Men fans can rest a little easier. Deadline’s reporting that Matt Weiner is close to a deal with AMC and Lionsgate to return to the hit show. With Weiner on board, AMC can officially green light season five and send it into production. The big holdup, of course, was all about the money. Weiner, Mad Men's creator and showrunner, was apparently asking for a lot more than the $9 million over two years deal he got on his last contract. Regardless, this news is great for AMC and fans of the show.
One problem, however, is that the delay brought about by these negotiations does mean that the show will premiere a lot later in the season than it normally does. Typically, Mad Men has kicked off its new seasons around July. The last time contracts held up the show, season 3 didn’t debut until August. And those deals were finalized in mid-January, not the end of March. So, one can expect a late Fall debut at the earliest.
The time off has had one benefit; it's given the stars of the show a chance to branch into the feature world. Christina Hendricks is set to take a lead role in Seconds of Pleasure, while Jon Hamm spent his time working on Friends with Kids. Season four's finale was talked about and debated for weeks. Let's hope season five can continue the stellar run.
