The Ones Who Live will mark the return of Rick Grimes, but its trailer hinted that The Walking Dead’s protagonist may be the villain of his own show.

Rick Grimes will finally return to The Walking Dead in The Ones Who Live spinoff, but the trailer hinted at the long-term protagonist being the villain of his own show. The Walking Dead debuted in 2010, and for eight years, Rick Grimes remained the protagonist of the show. His departure in 2018 meant new characters had to take the series forward, but the door was left open for his return, which The Ones Who Live will finally capitalize on. While all this time away from the series would seem to set up a joyful return, The Ones Who Live‘s trailer reveals that Rick may be the show’s villain.

Rather than the happy reunions that may have been expected from the spinoff, The Ones Who Live hints at a dark Rick Grimes return. While the trailer showed Michonne’s journey will be focused on her fighting to try and find Rick, the franchise’s protagonist may not be the same man she once knew. In the show’s timeline, Rick will now have been a part of the CRM for several years and, therefore, will have changed a lot as a character. The Walking Dead season 11 finale seemed to show Rick attempting to escape the CRM facility, but the spinoff’s trailer didn’t suggest he is trying too hard anymore.

Rick Grimes Seems To Be In Deep With The CRM

Rick Appears To Have A Significant Role Within The Villain Group

Despite the main show’s ending seemingly unveiling that Rick was unhappy being part of the CRM, the trailer indicates he may have embraced his situation. Rick’s role in the CRM appears bigger in The Ones Who Live than first anticipated. With how allusive Major General Beale is, the fact that Rick is having a conversation with him in the trailer seems significant. Beale was referenced in the World Beyond spinoff but never physically appeared, highlighting that while he is a major part of the group, he is hard to come by. Rick sitting down and chatting with Beale suggests that he must have a huge role within the CRM.

The trailer also shows someone wearing a pilot’s outfit, the person behind the mask looking very similar to Rick. This would suggest he is taking on big responsibilities within the group, as pilots are likely to be uncommon in the new world. It would also indicate that Rick would have a better opportunity to escape. The faction’s helicopters don’t have big capacities, as World Beyond highlighted, which would mean Rick would only have to kill a few soldiers before flying off for good, something he is certainly capable of. The fact he is still there could suggest he has learned to accept his role within the CRM after his failed escape attempts.

A Villainous Version Of Rick Grimes Would Make The Ones Who Live More Interesting

Rick Becoming A Villain Would Add More Excitement To The Spinoff

While The Ones Who Live‘s most obvious story would be based around Rick and Michonne’s reunion, a villainous Rick would be an interesting switch. It wouldn’t be the first time Rick had shown more sinister tendencies, as his murder-beard phase proved how ruthless and dark the character can be. The idea of him once again repeating a more unhinged arc is possible and Rick returning to The Walking Dead as a villain would be a genuine shock. Being away from his loved ones for so long is bound to have played with his mentality as it has done in the show previously, which could easily result in more aggressive behavior.

Although Rick may be one of the strongest and smartest characters in the franchise, the good the CRM has done may help him come around to their methods. The CRM does have the intention of finding a cure and isn’t purely evil, but the group also kills innocent people in their quest for peace. Rick may never fully embrace this, but he could be convinced some of these people are threats given the damage Rick Grimes’ greatest Walking Dead enemies have done in the past. Having Rick become an antagonist would add an extra dynamic to The Ones Who Live to make its story far more interesting.

Rick Grimes’ Walking Dead Spinoff Sets Up The Return Of A Season 1 Villain

With Rick Grimes finally set to return to The Walking Dead, his spinoff presents the chance to bring back one of the show’s earliest villains.

What Rick Being A Villain Would Mean For The Walking Dead’s Future

Rick Becoming A Villain Would Massively Impact The Franchise’s Future

If Rick does become a villain in The Ones Who Live, it may change the future of the franchise. If they do give him a villain arc, it is unlikely they will make him irredeemable. Rick may become a bit of a puppet to the CRM or at least a valued soldier, but The Walking Dead won’t have the protagonist do anything too extreme. He wouldn’t kill Michonne out of loyalty to the group or turn on his friends, but he could still make the CRM much stronger. The CRM may already be The Walking Dead‘s strongest group, but adding Rick to the mix will make them even more powerful.

His leadership and strategy are what helped the main characters survive for so long. Adding this to a well-established military would mean the survivors’ impending war against the CRM may not be winnable. While Michonne may get to see what has become of Rick in his more villainous state, the likes of Daryl, Morgan, and Rick’s children might never get the opportunity. Even if they did, he would be unrecognizable, and it would change these relationships going forward. If The Ones Who Live do opt to make Rick Grimes a villain, it could set up an unexpected future for The Walking Dead.