Since his departure from The Walking Dead, Andrew Lincoln has confirmed he will star in three Rick Grimes films. Here’s all we know about the trilogy.
Rick Grimes is The Walking Dead‘s most famous character despite not appearing since 2018, and his spin-off movie is still in the works; here’s everything that’s known about it. Much like Robert Kirkman’s comic book series, the first nine seasons of The Walking Dead‘s TV adaptation are built around Rick Grimes, the small-town cop who turned into a post-apocalyptic leader. Following Andrew Lincoln’s Walking Dead exit in season 9, it was announced that he would return to play Rick Grimes in a movie trilogy.
Rick Grimes’ shocking exit left huge question marks around how The Walking Dead could continue, but in his absence, the main show has thrived with Norman Reedus’ Daryl Dixon becoming the central character. The franchise has also expanded with Fear The Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond continuing to tell alternate stories from the zombie apocalypse. The shows have crossover appeal, with the likes of Morgan and Dwight becoming regulars in Fear The Walking Dead, and more intriguingly for the Rick Grimes movies, Jadis became the main antagonist in World Beyond season 2.
While Daryl, Michonne, and the other residents of Alexandria always hoped that Rick Grimes survived the bridge explosion in The Walking Dead season 9, Jadis was the only one from that area to know Rick was still alive. Rick Grimes was last seen being taken away by a mysterious helicopter that Jadis had called for. Here’s what we know about the future of Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead movies.
Rick Grimes’ Walking Dead Movie Cast
Currently, Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes is only one of two confirmed characters for The Walking Dead movie, alongside Jadis, also known as Anne, played by Pollyanna McIntosh. It makes sense that Jadis would appear alongside Rick, given she was the one who rescued his body following the bridge explosion, and it sets up potential appearances from The Walking Dead: World Beyond characters. As a working member of the Civic Republic Military, CRM, Jadis became one of the main characters of World Beyond‘s second season so it wouldn’t be surprising to see some of her co-stars show up in Rick Grimes’ film.
Not yet confirmed, but almost a certainty to show up in The Walking Dead movie is Michonne, played by Danai Guirira. Rick’s love interest was last seen in The Walking Dead season 10, searching for her missing partner. Given the movie series is set to become a trilogy, it would make sense that Rick reunites with his old family and friends in the end. While they may not be central to the storyline, some Walking Dead characters should return for the movies, particularly Daryl and Judith Grimes.
What Will Walking Dead’s Rick Grimes Movie Story Be About?
Central to the plot of Rick Grimes’ movie will be how he adjusts to life at the CRM. When Jadis is picked up by the CRM helicopter, she admits she lied about having an “A” but instead says she has a “B” to offer the community, in reference to the wounded Rick Grimes. World Beyond season 2 revealed that an “A” indicates a zombie test subject that is sent to the CRM’s research facility, while a “B” refers to an asset for the CRM. With Rick Grimes labeled as a “B,” and the skillset he has shown throughout his time on The Walking Dead, there’s no doubt he will be assigned to an important job in the CRM, potentially similar to Daryl at the Commonwealth.
There’s no sign yet in what time The Walking Dead movie will be set. The immediate future of Rick Grimes following his helicopter ride to the CRM is arguably the most interesting story for the film to tell because Rick will be confused, particularly given Jadis was the one to take him, despite her previous betrayal of Rick in favor of Negan. But the film could opt to align itself with The Walking Dead TV series and jump six years after the events that led Rick to the CRM.
Michonne’s story will likely be a key element of the Rick Grimes film. Michonne was last seen in season 10 of The Walking Dead when she found an iPhone engraved with “Rick” and a sketch of herself and Judith. After years without him, it gave Michonne the hope that Rick was still alive, so the search for her partner will be an important part of the first movie, if not the trilogy.
When Will Walking Dead’s Rick Grimes Movie Release?
Rick Grimes’ movie does not yet have a release date. The Walking Dead project is still in the development stage of production and filming has not started. Producer Scott Gimple has publicly said that the writing team is taking their time on the movie because they want to do Rick Grimes justice. Writing the film will have naturally become more difficult since Rick’s departure because characters who could be integral to the movie’s plot have ongoing storylines in The Walking Dead TV shows, like Jadis in World Beyond. Given the various Walking Dead series set for release in the coming years, including Daryl’s Walking Dead spin-off show, Rick Grimes’ movie could feasibly come to theaters by 2024.
Walking Dead’s Rick Grimes Movie Rumors & Teases
Since Rick’s departure, there have been hints and references about him dropped throughout The Walking Dead universe. The biggest Rick Grimes teases have come from Michonne’s discovery of the engraved phone, and more recently Jadis in World Beyond referencing Rick, without naming him, when she said that she traded something very valuable in order to get into the CRM. There have been several theories and speculation about what unused Rick storylines from Robert Kirkman’s comic book series could feature in The Walking Dead movies. Among the most popular rumors is that Rick Grimes will die in his movie trilogy to reflect his comic ending and to give his story closure. The fate of Rick Grimes is still unknown, but The Walking Dead‘s movies will give loyal viewers the answers that they have craved since Rick left the show.
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