The Walking Dead: Why Was Rick Grimes Absent For So Long?

After an absence of more than five years, Rick Grimes is finally returning to the Walking Dead universe via the spin-off The Ones Who Live. After the unexpected departure of the horror series in season 9, the latter did not appear on the show again, except for a cameo in the final episode that aired in December 2022.

Very badly injured, Rick Grimes is presumed dead by many characters in the series after the bridge explodes, causing a massive horde of walkers to be neutralized. However, viewers learned that the latter was secretly transported by helicopter to an unknown destination at the instigation of ex-villain Jadis.

Unexpected departure

Several Walking Dead characters never accepted Rick’s death. Namely, his friend Daryl, who has since gone on his own adventure in France. Or his companion Michonne, who went looking for him after discovering evidence that proved the former sheriff is still alive, despite eight years since his disappearance.

But why did Rick Grimes disappear from the series, especially since he doesn’t appear in the comics until the last volume? This was not a script choice, but a decision made by the character’s interpreter, Andrew Lincoln.

However, this departure was not for professional reasons, but for family reasons. The Walking Dead is filmed most of the year in Atlanta, Georgia, an area particularly known for its hot and humid climate, which can be very challenging at times.

Back home

As for him from London, Andrew Lincoln wanted to leave the series to spend more time with his family. “I have two young children, I live abroad and moving them has become more difficult now that they have grown up” He told our colleaguesEntertainment Weekly. “It was that simple, it was time for me to go home.”

The British actor and the production of the horror series parted ways on good terms. It was also soon announced that Rick Grimes would be returning to the movies in The Walking Dead, a project that eventually turned into a trilogy of TV movies.

But after many delays, especially due to Covid, this spin-off finally saw the light of day in the form of a mini-series called The Ones Who Live. Remember that two other spin-off series have also been released: Daryl Dixon with Norman Reedus and Dead City featuring the unlikely duo of Maggie and Negan.

Episodes of The Ones Who Live can be seen every Friday exclusively on Paramount+.

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