After leading The Walking Dead for nine seasons, Andrew Lincoln feels the show will benefit from his departure and new stories can emerge.
Andrew Lincoln will soon say goodbye to his role as Rick Grimes on The Walking Dead, with just two episodes left for his character in season 9. As hard as that is for fans to take in, some solace can be taken in Lincoln’s own reassurance the show will be great after his exit.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly about the future of the show, Lincoln expressed a bit of regret about not being a part of its evolution. An understandable feeling of course, since Lincoln’s been a part of the apocalyptic series since its first episode back in October 2010. He joked that “when they send me the scripts, I do get a little upset because it sounds really cool.”
Lincoln shared his belief that the show, in fact, will thrive with his exit, as it will allow new stories to grow.
“There’s something beautiful in the original DNA of the show in that it is all about change,” Lincoln told EW. “The show will live on and it will continue to be great.” He added that when Lennie James left The Walking Dead to appear on Fear the Walking Dead, “it was brilliant” and proves that change is good for the development of the series moving forward.
Plus with new showrunner Angela Kang, Lincoln admits “there is a sense that there is a new vision for the show.” As Rick Grimes departs (or, perhaps, dies), The Walking Dead can offer more time for other characters and their stories. We’ve seen hints of this developing, with more screen time given to Lauren Cohan (Maggie), Norman Reedus (Daryl), and Carol (Melissa McBride).
Lincoln shared that he didn’t want to stay “too long” on the show as he feels the overall story “will actually benefit from other people taking the reins and forging a new path.”
As for whether Lincoln will ever return to The Walking Dead? Cameos of any kind are up in the air, depending heavily on the fate of his character on the show. But Lincoln could return behind-the-scenes to offer his expertise as a director. In September, Lincoln told EW his plans to shadow a director on set and eventually direct an episode for season 10.
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