It turns out that “Walking Dead” fans are actually getting extra screen time with Rick Grimes.
When asked by Entertainment Weekly how long he has been planning his exit from the zombie drama, leading man Andrew Lincoln said that he’s been thinking about it since way back in Season 4, and that eight seasons sounded like a good number to end on.
“I had a conversation during season 4 with [executive producer] Scott Gimple about this,” he said. “You know, we shared young families and there was a lot of synchronicity between the two of us that were two heads of a show that seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. We spoke about it and said, ‘There’s got to be a shape. We need a shape to work out if we get to season 5 then maybe we’ve got a couple more.’ There were all these ifs and buts and strategies. And I said, eight sounds like a good number.’ Eight seasons was certainly something. Last season was a shape that I had in my head and it was certainly something that Scott was possibly thinking about as well that was a completion of a certain chapter which could be called Rick’s falling.”
But Lincoln continued to say that by the time Season 8 actually rolled around, things were more “complicated.”
“I realized that rather than have the funeral, I had to prepare for the funeral and I had to make sure everybody was comfortable with the funeral arrangements. And I don’t think I was ready for the funeral! You know what I mean? I was like, I don’t think I’m ready to go yet!” he said. And the beloved actor isn’t saying goodbye forever: he’s been shadowing directors on-set and has hopes to direct in Season 10.
After Comic-Con in 2017, he told his wife he wasn’t ready to leave all of his friends: “I don’t know if I can do it yet. I don’t know if it’s time,” he remembers telling his wife.
“It was at Comic-Con that year that I made the decision that I couldn’t leave that year. I said to my wife, ‘I feel overwhelmed. I don’t think I’m ready. I can’t do it. I’ve got Norman, I’ve got Danai, I’ve got Jeffrey, I’ve got Melissa McBride, I’ve got Greg Nicotero — all these beautiful friends of mine and I don’t know if I can do it yet. I don’t know if it’s time.'” he said. “So that happened.”
But now, it is time.
“I have to do it,” he told EW. “I have to come home. There was a certain sense that I’ve been without a home for this time. And I think it is right.”
“The Walking Dead” Season 9 premieres Sunday, Oct. 7 on AMC.
'The Walking Dead': Let's Obsess Over These New Season 9 Images (Photos)
"The Walking Dead" Season 9 is still close to two months away, but we have some new photos from the first episode and we're obviously trying to glean as much information from them as possible. In this first photo, we see Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Carol (Melissa McBride), Ezekiel (Khary Peyton) and Eugene (Josh McDermitt).
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Michonne, looking fierce as always. In Season 9, Michonne has added a small plaid wrap from one of Carl (Chandler Riggs)'s shirts to keep his memory close, according to showrunner Angela Kang.
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Maggie (Lauren Cohan) has taken over as the leader of the Hilltop in the upcoming season, and it looks from this photo like she is indeed leading the pack.
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This photo looks like Maggie's Hilltop residents have encountered someone or something that's caught them by surprise. In the back, you can see former Savior Alden (Callan McAuliffe), who was once Maggie's prisoner.
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What are Daryl, Michonne and Rick looking at?
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Carol and Ezekiel are in a happy relationship at the beginning of Season 9. In one clip released from the Season 9 premiere, Carol tells Daryl that after having an abusive husband like Ed in the past, dating Ezekiel is nice -- even though he can be corny.
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We saw a bit of this scene in the Season 9 trailer released at Comic Con. It seems as though the crew has made it to Washington, D.C., and are trying to get this wagon out of a museum.
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Good ol' Jerry (Cooper Andrews) is here to hopefully provide some more of his sweet comic relief.
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Rosita (Christian Serratos) is writing something on this road sign. Remember the "A"s that will occasionally pop up? Showrunner Angela Kang recently said that "there is a meaning" to it, which we'll find out this season.
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Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) debuts a new glass eye after that strange condition that showed up last season.
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Daryl has his crossbow at the ready in this picture -- but we can expect the apocalypse's heartthrob to have some new weapons this season as well. Reedus helped design some "saw-backed Bowie knives with finger rings that allow you to quickly twirl the knives into different positions (you can grip them in either direction)," Kang said on AMC's blog this week.
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In this last shot, it seems like the crew were successful in getting that wagon and are headed... somewhere. Back to the Hilltop? To the communal camp from the trailer?
Season 9 hits AMC on Sunday, Oct. 7.
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New photos hint at the post-All Out War world
"The Walking Dead" Season 9 is still close to two months away, but we have some new photos from the first episode and we're obviously trying to glean as much information from them as possible. In this first photo, we see Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Carol (Melissa McBride), Ezekiel (Khary Peyton) and Eugene (Josh McDermitt).