EXCLUSIVE: The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live star Danai Gurira explains her and Andrew Lincoln’s expanded roles in the show as executive producers.
Summary
- As executive producers on The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live , Gurira and Lincoln had creative control over the series and were supported by AMC.
- Gurira wrote an episode of the show and had involvement in all aspects of the series, including staffing and artistic choices.
- Being an executive producer required intense work, but Gurira found it gratifying to have a hand in shaping the spinoff.
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live star Danai Gurira reveals what it was like for her and co-star Andrew Lincoln to have expanded roles as executive producers on the upcoming series. The new spinoff will feature the return of Rick Grimes (Lincoln) following his capture by the CRM, alongside Michonne (Gurira) as she tries to rescue him. Both the show’s stars were previously reported to be executive producers on the project.
Speaking with Screen Rant during The Ones Who Live premiere, Gurira revealed what it was like for her and Lincoln to work in expanded roles on the Rick and Michonne spinoff. The actor revealed how the duo’s vision of the show was prioritized by AMC, while also teasing her involvement in writing an episode of the show. Check out what Gurira had to say below:
I mean the great thing was, the head of the network was very clear with me and [Andrew Lincoln] that, you know, ‘This is yours… you guys do what you gotta do, this is your vision, and we’ll support it.’ And, that sounds great! So, that was what we were very excited to do.
[…]
[Being an executive producer on The Ones Who Live] was very intense. We did a lot, and all cylinders were going at all times. I also wrote an episode that [Scott] Gimple left me to showrun, so it was a lot of cylinders going all the time. We had our eyes on everything, and we worked together on everything, from—anything you can name. From staffing, to casting, to artistic choices, to of course story, so it was a lot of work. But it was very gratifying.
Why Danai Gurira & Andrew Lincoln’s Vision Is Vital For The Ones Who Live
The Ones Who Live originally began as a trilogy of movies focused on Rick after his capture by the CRM, before it evolved into a story focused on both him and Michonne. Because of this, their story will now be told in a six-episode series, with the potential for more seasons later on. Since this show will feature the return of both characters several years after leaving the main series, it makes sense for both actors to be involved in the process of their return.
Gurira will also be writing episode 4 of the series, indicating it will mark an important milestone for the story of the show. By being so involved in the series’ development process, both her and Lincoln will be able to expand on the mysteries of the CRM while telling a fitting story for the characters they portray. This also means both Rick and Michonne will get a proper continuation that is approved by the lead actors.
While what happens in The Ones Who Live remains a mystery, the reunion between Rick and Michonne will no doubt be a powerful part of the series. With both Gurira and Lincoln involved in many aspects of the show, what happens to the pair will likely be just as satisfying for viewers as it is for the acting duo. With plenty of details surrounding their story yet to be revealed, it’s reassuring to know the lead actors had such a huge hand to play in making the series come to life.
