The final season of popular AMC original drama "Mad Men," premieres this Sunday. And it appears that the last season will be stretched out over two years, giving fans more time before they have to say goodbye to the much loved show.

The seventh and final season of "Mad Men" will be split into two halves, each comprising seven episodes. The first half will be broadcast starting in the spring of 2014, and is titled "The Beginning," according to the Los Angeles Times. The second half of the final season will hit the small screen in the spring of 2015. The second half is titled "The End of an Era."

Many are wondering why the show decided to split the season in half. AMC President Charlie Collier released a statement describing the network's reasoning.

"This approach has worked well for many programs across multiple networks, and, most recently for us with 'Breaking Bad,' which attracted nearly double the number of viewers to its second-half premiere than had watched any previous episode. We are determined to bring 'Mad Men' a similar showcase," he said.

And the producers of "Mad Men" seems to share Collier's enthusiasm. Showrunner Mattew Weiner spoke of his excitement recently.

"We plan to take advantage of this chance to have a more elaborate story told in two parts, which can resonate a little bit longer in the minds of our audience. The writers, cast and other artists welcome this unique manner of ending this unique experience," Weiner explained.