The Walking Dead will be entering its ninth season this year, and the series' main protagonist Rick Grimes is calling it quits. The show is based on a comic book of the same name, and the show, for the most part, has followed the same storylines. Now that Andrew Lincoln has expressed his desire to leave the show, fans are speculating that the series will have to spiral off in a new direction, since Grimes is still around in the comics.
Comic-Con San Diego is currently taking place, and The Walking Dead comic and show creator Robert Kirkman discussed the implications of Lincoln leaving the show. According to Variety, Kirkman publicly confirmed the exit for the first time by stating, “It’s looking that way" when asked about the situation. “It does make the difference between the comic and the show more pronounced,” Kirkman continued. “But at the end of the day, it’s all about Andrew Lincoln. This is a human being. This is someone I have known for almost a decade, somebody that I love. He’s been sweating in Georgia away from his family for so long.” Danai Gurira, who plays Michonne on the series, might also be leaving soon. She was featured in both Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, and it looks like her stardom will lead her to greener pastures. Norman Reedus, who plays Daryl on the show, is set to become the new series lead.
