"Mad Men" finally gets deal done; show renewed for 2 more seasons

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN Entertainment) - The dispute on the "Mad Men" contract has been resolved, with the Emmy-winning series slated to start production in July, the same month the fifth season was supposed to premiere. Creator Matt Weiner said the show has been renewed for two more seasons.

After intense negotiations, Weiner has finally agreed on a deal with network AMC and producers Lionsgate TV. The two sides had been battling over issues that included cutting down air time by two minutes, introducing more product placement on the show, and reducing the number of its regular actors.

The delay in their agreement pushed back the Season 5 premiere to March 2012.

The parties have now come up with a new contract that makes the cast members "safe from financial concerns" but gives Weiner the right to cut actors "on creative basis."

He told Deadline, "I walked away from it four-five times in the last few days," referring to their deal that almost didn't happen. "I wanted to do the show I wanted to do and the show the audience has come to expect."

The deal calls for the show's renewal for two seasons - its fifth and sixth - but since Weiner is locked in for three more seasons, it is possible that the series will extend to the seventh.

However, Weiner added, "These will be the last three seasons. I'm going to take it one year at a time without the distraction to ever have to go through this again."