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Andrew Lincoln on When to Expect ‘The Walking Dead’ Movie

The Walking Dead is planning for a trilogy of films with Andrew Lincoln starring as Rick Grimes and we have an idea of when we’ll see it.

His final episode of The Walking Dead made clear that his exit from the series would be open ended, leaving room for much more story for the beloved leader. The character is not killed off, but instead gets scooped up by Jadis as he’s injured in an explosion he sets off. His exit episode was cushioned with an almost immediate announcement from AMC of plans for a film trilogy with the character.

Lincoln spoke about his exit and the plans with The New York Times recently, and he actually revealed when they will start on the films.

“Everybody thinks I’m a sociopath because I’m not breaking down at every interview. But the truth is that I know that there’s something happening next year.”

Although the film doesn’t yet have a completed script, this means that production will start next year, resulting in a 2020 release of the first film.

Lincoln promises a whole new story for Rick Grimes, who is currently enjoying the peace of being whisked away to safety.
“They’re not just longer episodes,” he says.

As per movies content, Lincoln only speaks on general themes of the films. He reveals what they are drawing from for the films as well.

“We talked about Unforgiven, the Clint Eastwood movie, which I admire greatly. There’s something about Eastwood, who he is as a gunslinger, as an iconic kind of American hero, rolling around in pig swill at the beginning of the movie. You know what he’s capable of, and I thought the idea of a character that the audience knows and has lived with — and who has oscillated between psycho and father for nine years — to start in a completely different place, was a really interesting, crazy place to begin. I want to know why we keep seeing helicopters flying around. What’s going on? What have the grown-ups been doing while we’ve been scrambling around in the dirt?”

Although we will never again see Lincoln back on the series, the prospect of his story seen in a whole new light is very exciting.

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 pm ET on AMC.