Andrew Lincoln Reveals That ‘The Walking Dead’ Will Be Just Fine Without Him

Most shows would be hard pressed to continue strong without their main star. But for The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln, losing Rick Grimes after Season 9 will not affect the series as much as some critics are predicting. In fact, Lincoln believes AMC’s hit zombie show has a promising future without his character leading the way.
“There’s something beautiful in the original DNA of the show in that it is all about change,” Lincoln shared. “The show will live on and it will continue to be great.”
The next 2 episodes will be Rick Grimes’ last. ? #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/6oBrSbsiaI
— Rick Grimes (@RickAndThangs) October 22, 2018
Lincoln believes the changes that are coming will help drive the show in a new direction. The actor used Lennie James as an example of this. James’ character, Morgan, left the show to join the spin-off Fear the Walking Dead, a move that has been well received by most fans.
While Rick is not leaving to join another series, he believes his exit will open the door for other characters to step into the limelight.
Aside from character changes, Lincoln is also excited about Angela Kang taking over as the showrunner following Scott Gimple’s departure.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Lincoln revealed that Kang has a “new vision” for the series and has infused a new excitement on set. That said, Lincoln is sad that he will not be a part of the new direction, but he does plan on directing an episode next season. He might not appear in front of the cameras anymore, but it is nice to know that he will still be a part of the operation in some capacity.
Send some love to Andrew Lincoln! Tell us some of your favorite #RickGrimes moments by using #ThankYouAndy or record a video and tag us! #TWD pic.twitter.com/5loiMo8jF0
— The Walking Dead AMC (@WalkingDead_AMC) October 22, 2018
Only time will tell how long The Walking Dead will last after Lincoln is gone. So far, the ratings indicate that the series will have a difficult time moving forward without their star.
The ratings are already down this season compared to last, and that trend seems to be continuing as Lincoln’s exit draws nearer. We can only hope that Andrew Lincoln is proven correct and the other characters keep the series going until the story reaches a natural conclusion.
New episodes of The Walking Dead air Sunday nights on AMC.