Very little time remains before the zombies return to our screens. Already AMC's longest running show, in its eighth season, 'The Walking Dead' promises war, and we're prepared to say goodbye to a lot of characters. Whilst we caught a glimpse of an elderly Rick in a recent trailer, nothing is certain, and there is nothing to say that the protagonist will survive. Andrew Lincoln spoke about the possibility.
The actor reflected at large on the possibility of 'The Walking Dead' continuing without him in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. "There is a completion thing that I think I deserve for doing it for so long. And also probably the audience would like some completion." Lincoln clarified he wasn't referring to the end of the series, but that of his character, Rick: "I'm not saying that the show would ever finish, but I certainly think that there's an opportunity for the show to change at some point, and I think it should."
It appears as though Lincoln already has his sights set on new projects, nothing out of the ordinary for someone who has spent seven years breathing life into the same character. The actor did identify that the show could very well continue by switching the point of view to that of Rick's son, Carl: "It's beautifully set up for that - for the camera to be certainly his (Rick's) story, and then it just shifts off. If ever there was a landscape or an environment to do that, it's our show. But whether or not that's this season... well, you have to find out, don't you?"
Robert Kirkman, the brains behind the comics from which the series is taken is just as sure that the show could outlive the protagonist: "We have a very strong ensemble, and there's a lot of characters that could carry the show." Showrunner, Scott M. Gimple agrees:"We lose terrific actors and terrific characters because that's part of the narrative...So I don't think any show is more prepared, sadly, to lose people than 'The Walking Dead' is."
Is it really the end for Rick?
We're not nearly as confident that the show will be able to survive without Rick. One thing we are sure about, however, is that the protagonist will appear in the 8th season. (So long as he's not eaten by a walker, that is). Gimple is already looking at an unconfirmed ninth season according to ComicBook.com, where he gave away some of his ideas. "There's aspects of this season that...we're emphasising because next season, especially the first half of next season, is going to be very, very different."
So, will we be bidding farewell to Rick? From the responses we've received, it seems likely, although we're not too sure who could take his place as protagonist. What do you think? Will TWD be the same without Rick? The eighth season airs on 23rd October.
