Deadline is reporting that AMC has officially greenlite season 5 of “Mad Men” despite not having a deal with “Mad Men” creator-executive producer Matt Weiner. Because of this, the Emmy-winning period drama will have its premiere of Season 5 pushed back from the summer to early next year.
Here is the full statement:
“AMC has officially authorized production of season 5 of Mad Men, triggering our option with Lionsgate. While we are getting a later start than in years past due to ongoing, key non-cast negotiations, Mad Men will be back for a fifth season in early 2012.”
According to the report, if Weiner and and AMC agrees to a contract, he will become the highest-paid showrunner on basic cable with a new mega deal that would pay him close to $30 million over two years. Negotiations are stalled because Weiner is objecting to three things AMC/Lionsgate are asking for: integrating product placement into the series, cutting two minutes from each episode’s running time in favor of more commercials, and eliminating/reducing two regular cast members to save money.