A show that has been one of the biggest success stories on television for the past several years has been picked up for another season just ahead of its season premiere.

Variety reports that AMC ordered a 16-episode eighth season of “The Walking Dead,” to premiere in late 2017. All 16 episodes will be followed by the aftershow “The Talking Dead,” hosted by Chris Hardwick.

The news comes just ahead of the Sunday, Oct. 23, premiere of season seven of “The Walking Dead.”

“Ratings for the series declined a little in Season 6 from its highs in Season 5, but its average rating in the 18-49 demographic, a 6.5, was light-years ahead of its scripted competition on broadcast and cable, and its total viewership average of 13.15 million also dwarfs much else on the guide,” Variety reports. “The show, like many others these days, also tacks on a significant number of delayed viewers.”