Andrew Lincoln's departure from his long-running role of Rick Grimes continues to break fans' hearts after he made his announcement during the San Diego Comic-Con this year. But it looks like Rick Grimes's last stint with “The Walking Dead” season 9 is not wholly set in stone.
In an interview with the BBC's Radio 1 Newsbeat, “The Walking Dead” season 9 showrunner Angela Kang shares the possibility that Rick Grimes could return at some point in the show's future. Kang did not mention the specifics of Andrew Lincoln's exit from the show, but she assures fans that with time jumps being an essential component of the show, there is always the possibility of Rick Grimes's return.
Fans will remember that Andrew Lincoln's departure from “The Walking Dead” season 9 is primarily motivated by the British actor's desire to spend more time with his family. With nine seasons of “The Walking Dead” under his belt, the father of two young children deserves time to see his kids grow up.
Fans may wonder if the non-commital statement by Angela Kang about Rick Grimes's potential return is related to “The Walking Dead” season 9's recent dip in ratings after the show's premiere episode. While the show's dropping ratings have been observable after the increased presence of news about Andrew Lincoln's departure, there is no solid evidence that the news is responsible for the trend.
Aside from Rick, “The Walking Dead” season 9 will also see the departure of Maggie Rhee actress Lauren Cohan. Cohan's departure comes at a time when the actress has found herself involved in multiple projects aside from the “The Walking Dead.” Unlike Lincoln's departure, Cohan is assured to return to the series in the near future.
Fans looking forward to seeing how the show's writers will make it possible for Andrew Lincoln to come back in the future should catch “The Walking Dead” season 9's next few episodes when they air during the show's usual Sunday broadcast schedule. Hopefully, Rick Grimes's exit is worthy of the character's legacy and helps explain the possibility of his return.
