Since his departure from The Walking Dead, Andrew Lincoln has confirmed he will star in a Rick Grimes TV show. Here’s all we know about the series.

The Rick Grimes The Walking Dead spinoff, titled The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, is on the way from AMC — and the third character-focused series after Daryl Dixon and Dead City, and is easily the most long-awaited. After Andrew Lincoln’s Walking Dead exit in season 9, it was announced he would return for a Rick Grimes movie, possibly several. However, The Walking Dead movie was scrapped in favor of a spinoff miniseries. The show that would eventually become The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Lived would focus on Rick and Michonne after the events of The Walking Dead season 11, finally explaining the mysteries of the CRM once and for all.

Of all the TWD spinoffs it’s The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live that appears most connected to the overarching narratives of the main show. While Michonne and the other residents of Alexandria always hoped that Rick Grimes survived the bridge explosion in The Walking Dead season 9, Andrew Lincoln didn’t return until The Walking Dead series finale. Michonne is seen out on her own still in search of Rick, who is also seen being prompted to surrender by a CRM helicopter over a loudspeaker. This set up The Walking Dead movie-turned-series, which will see Rick and Michonne reunite, likely in a battle with the CRM.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live News

As the show’s premiere lurks ever-nearer, the latest news sees AMC release a cryptic teaser video for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. Dropped on their social media pages, the short clip features the CRM logo as well as a hand unlocking a door. Though the video didn’t reveal who the keyholder was, it went a long way in confirming that the CRM, and their many secrets, would be exposed in the new spinoff.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Is Confirmed

While there were plans for Rick Grimes to return in The Walking Dead movie, in July 2022 it was confirmed that Andrew Lincoln would instead return in a spinoff series of his own. Lincoln and Gurira confirmed the Rick and Michonne spinoff alongside producer Scott M. Gimple (via IGN). As well as starring as Michonne, Danai Guirira also co-created the series with Gimple and shares writing credits.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Release Date

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live release date has been set for February 25, 2024. AMC has confirmed the Rick and Michonne spinoff will have six episodes and debut on AMC and streaming service AMC+ when it arrives. Currently, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is being billed as a miniseries with no second season planned, but this could always change.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Cast

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live cast will, of course, be led by Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes and Danai Gurira as Michonne. Andrew Lincoln played Rick Grimes from the very first episode of The Walking Dead through to his season 9 exit. Danai Gurira will be reprising her role as Michonne and has also been a key creative force for the TWD spinoff alongside producer Scott M. Gimple.

Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira aren’t alone in the cast of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, however. Other confirmed cast members for the Rick and Michonne spinoff include:

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The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Story – What Is The Rick And Michonne Spinoff About?

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live has been described as an epic love story between Rick and Michonne. The synopsis promises a major reunion between the two while they once again find themselves surrounded by danger and enemies beyond the ever-present walkers. Teases of the CRM fighting a war against the dead which drags Rick and Michonne into it make it clear who the villains of the story will be.

The Walking Dead finale also seems to reveal that he has already escaped CRM only to be recaptured. This confirms that whatever new life he was brought to when he was flown away has not been to his liking. The helicopter pilot who speaks to Rick over the loudspeaker in Rick’s final scene of The Walking Dead finale also hints at another human villain on the horizon as the pilot reminds Rick, “It’s like he told you, there’s no escape for the living.” Who “he” is remains to be seen.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Trailer

While the full Rick and Michonne spinoff trailer hasn’t yet been released, the first footage was screened at SDCC 2023 with a brief teaser. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live teaser focuses on Michonne with her sword-wielding silhouette shown against a striking red background. Her narration explains that she lost someone years ago only to learn he is alive. The footage then cuts to Rick shown to be alive though it is unclear if he is still a captive.

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Why The Rick Grimes Movies Are Now A Show

In 2018, after Andrew Lincoln’s exit from the show, AMC announced that there were plans to make The Walking Dead movie trilogy centered on Rick Grimes. After little to no news surrounding the Rick Grimes movie release, it was revealed at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con that the movie trilogy would now be a six-part miniseries focusing on Rick and Michonne. The Walking Dead series finale set up the Rick Grimes show by revealing that Michonne is on the hunt for her lost love, though it’s yet unclear how the two will be reunited.

Changing the Walking Dead movie into a show was the right call by AMC, as the landscape of the entertainment industry has changed drastically. Between streaming services reaching the height of their popularity and the COVID-19 pandemic wiping out theatrical releases, the way people consume media has shifted immensely over the last few years. In addition, a miniseries format allows The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live to properly explore Rick’s journey after season 9 without the time constraints given by feature films. Though many fans were expecting a Rick Grimes movie, a show is the better choice.