How the Rick Grimes movies were scrapped for a TV show

AMC’s zombie drama The Walking Dead has aired its series finale, but we aren’t done with this universe. Spinoffs Fear the Walking Dead and Tales of the Walking Dead are already running, but we also have spinoffs starring Daryl Dixon and Negan ont he way.

Perhaps the most exciting of the upcoming Walking Dead spinoffs is a series about original lead Rick Grimes, last seen in season 9, and Michonne, who left the show to look for him. The series finale featured the return of both characters, setting up their solo adventure.

AMC always wanted to bring Andrew Lincoln back as Rick Grimes, but originally the plan was for him to star in a trilogy of movies. How did that turn into a TV series?

Why is AMC making a Rick Grimes TV show instead of movies?

While discussing The Walking Dead franchise on the Talking Strange podcast, long-time Walking Dead producer and director Greg Nicotero shined light on what happened. “Several iterations of the movie script flew around and it just ended up not coming to fruition,” Nicotero explained. “The idea of doing a Rick Grimes show popped up a year and a half ago probably.”

"I don’t think anybody really thought it was gonna happen. Lo’ and behold, as we get closer we start realizing, ‘Look, if we’re not going to do the movies then maybe there’s a show there.’"

It is yet unknown if the Rick and Michonne show will be a one-season affair. It’s hard to believe that it will bring their stories to a definitive end, as AMC rarely seems willing to part with characters for good anymore. Rick Grimes does deserve a proper ending though, especially because his storyline on the show is drastically different than what happened to him in Robert Kirkman’s comics.

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