Here’s everything to know about Rick and Michonne’s ‘The Walking Dead’ spin-off
- Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira are returning to TV on their own “Walking Dead” spin-off.
- “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” will continue Rick and Michonne’s love story.
- One of six “TWD” spin-offs, it will debut in February 2024.
Six years after departing “The Walking Dead,” fans will finally learn what happened to Rick Grimes in a spin-off show.
Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira surprised fans at San Diego Comic-Con in 2022 announcing their joint return to “TWD” universe on a TV series to continue Rick and Michonne’s love story.
“This has been the most extraordinary journey playing Rick Grimes for the best part of a decade,” Lincoln said at the time in a press release to Insider. “I’m so excited to be returning to the screen as Rick, reuniting with Danai as Michonne, and bringing the fans an epic love story to add to ‘The Walking Dead’ universe.”
Lincoln left “TWD” in dramatic fashion. While Rick’s friends and family believed he died in a bridge explosion and collapse, audiences watched a gravely wounded Rick fly off in a mysterious helicopter. After a massive time jump, Gurira’s character, Michonne, left the series two years later in search of her man after discovering a clue he may be alive.
Rick’s journey was initially set to continue in a trilogy of movies, which are no longer moving forward. Here’s everything fans need to know about the return of the “TWD” power couple to TV next year.
It’s called ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’
Originally referred to as “The Walking Dead: Rick & Michonne,” AMC revealed the show’s official name, “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live,” with a trailer reveal at 2023’s San Diego Comic-Con.
Fans will recognize the title as a reference to the phrase often shared between the two lovers.
After being separated for years, Michonne and Rick will be trying to find their way back to one another on the “TWD” spin-off. Rick has presumably been detained for years by a group known as the Civic Republic Military despite at least one effort to escape.
“TWD” universe chief content officer Scott M. Gimple will serve as showrunner and executive producer. In an interview with Self, Gurira described herself as a cocreator of the series, writing the show alongside Gimple. She and Lincoln also serve as executive producers.
Bert & Bertie, who have directed episodes of “The Great” and “Our Flag Means Death,” directed the pilot.
Rick and Michonne will be joined by new and old faces
Pollyanna McIntosh will reprise her role as Jadis from both “TWD” and spin-off “World Beyond.“
A leader in the Civic Republic Military (CRM), Jadis flew off with Rick on his final episode of “The Walking Dead” to get him help.
At NYCC 2023, “Lost” star Terry O’Quinn was announced as the formidable CRM General Beale whose name has been thrown around in the “TWD” universe.
Matt Jeffries and Lesley-Ann Brandt were also cast in the roles of Nat and Pearl, respectively. The latter appears to be a member of the CRM.
Fans also spied King Bach in the series. The social media star appeared on Michonne’s final episode of “TWD” in 2020.
Many have wondered if Julia Ormond’s CRM leader, Elizabeth, will also return. That remains to be seen.
It’s one season, for now
Gurira has described the show as a “prestige miniseries.“
When announced in 2022, AMC said the series will “begin with six episodes,” making it seem as if there’s potential for this to be more than a limited series.
It will premiere in February 2024
AMC has announced “TWD: The Ones Who Live” will debut on AMC and AMC+ in February.
We wouldn’t be surprised if the greatest “TWD” love story kicks off around Valentine’s Day on February 10 or February 17 to mirror previous “TWD” universe scheduling.
