The Walking Dead: Norman Reedus asked Andrew Lincoln to Return as Rick Grimes for Final Season
Published on January 8th, 2020 | Updated on January 8th, 2021 | By FanFest
AMC confirmed what many fans had anticipated – The Walking Dead will end after Season 11. Now, its biggest star, Norman Reedus, is pushing to get The Walking Dead Universe’s biggest and most important character back to the show.
In an interview with RadioTimes.com and other press outlets, Reedus, who plays Daryl Dixon, admitted that he’s pushing to get Andrew Lincoln to return to the show’s final season, bringing back Rick Grimes. “You know, I was teasing him the other day on the phone. I was like, ‘You’re coming back for this last season, right?’.”
Despite asking the question however, Reedus says that Lincoln has been non-committal with his answer so far.
“He’s like, ‘Uh…’ you know, he won’t say anything. He won’t commit. But it’s very Andrew Lincoln to try to pull a fast one on me.
“So I don’t know. I have no idea. I literally don’t know. I wish I knew. And I have a big mouth, so they probably wouldn’t tell me!”
There has been a lot of speculation over the past weeks whether or not Lincoln was returning to the show to complete the Grimes family story, which is played out in the comic books. Here’s what we know and the bits of information we’ve picked up on over the past several weeks.
First up, Angel Theory, who plays Kelly on The Walking Dead, posted an image of herself, Cassady McClincy, and Andrew Lincoln on her Twitter account (See the image below). The tweet said: “REALLY wishing we could have gotten scenes with Lydia, Kelly and Rick. Maybe someday.” Since the post, Theory’s account has now gone into private mode.
UPDATE: Theory has since restored her Twitter account but has deleted the tweet.
In order to properly end The Walking Dead, the show has to end with Rick Grimes, with whom the show started. The Walking Dead is Rick Grimes’ story. It’s only proper to end it with Rick, since Carl (Chandler Riggs) is no longer alive on the show.
What we do know is that Lincoln has been involved still with the show. According to Scott Gimple, who is in charge of The Walking Dead Universe for AMC, Gimple said had during San Diego Comic-Con at Home that Lincoln still has a huge say in what happens in the series. “He throws around the football with the rest of us. He’s very, very interested in this thing,” said Gimple. “And I got to tell you, he’s itching to get back, too. We all are,” he continued.
Second, as the pandemic is slowing and production begins to start on several fronts, the long-awaited Rick Grimes movie may be soon to be underway. As well, fans debated whether or not Rick was the Masked Stranger in the Season 10 Finale/Special Event, which we now know isn’t the case. There was also a rumor, that turned out to be false, that Rick would appear in the Season Finale of The Walking Dead: World Beyond.
AMC has also posted notice with Georgia’s film department that the show is now back in pre-production and headed towards full-blown filming.
Lincoln has previously stated that he may have left the show too soon, as the writing for the show has been strong the past two seasons. There wouldn’t be a more exciting moment on the show than to have Rick Grimes make a comeback in the Season 10 finale of the show of which the episode is titled, “A Certain Doom.” An appearance in the final episode, albeit brief, would excite past and present viewers of the show to make sure that Season 11 would be appointment television again.
As we near the end of Season 10, we do know that a Season 10b is set to air early next year. There will be a six episode continuation of Season 10, followed by a 24 episode Season 11 later in the year, carrying the show to its end in 2022.
A conclusion of Season 11 would logically take us into the Rick Grimes movies.
Either way, fans are ready for their hero to return. It’s time for Rick Grimes to return to the world of The Walking Dead. The world needs Rick Grimes!
What are your thoughts on Andrew Lincoln and The Walking Dead? Are you ready for more Rick Grimes?
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It’s not walking dead without Rick. He needs to come back. I pray he does. The Ratings would definitely go up. So they need to do what ever that he wants to bring him back! Rick, Daryl and Michonne need to stay on the show.
I do believe that Rick needs to come back him and Daryl are my favorite characters and I believe he should come back the show isnt the same with out him.
I very much would love to see Rick come back to the show, I’ve missed seeing him on the episode specially would love to see him with Judith and his son. Looking forward to seeing his movies not looking forward to the ending of the show. I’ve been a fan since day one and will always be. I’m trying to get a hold of all the dvd I have season one and two and my daughter just bought me season 9. Forever an Andrew Lincoln fan aka Rick Grimes
Bring him back please!! It has to end with Rick Grimes return. Please come back Andrew!!!!!!
Rick is TWD forever ♥
Well, after the killings of Glenn & Abraham the Carl to me it had never been the same..Then RICK, that was it for me..Walking Dead is Gone down the drain to me..All the ones from the start is just sbt gone..So if they get Rick bk, I know I will watch the last season for sure..By By Walking Dead!!
Since Rick disappeared in Walking Dead,. I almost forgot to watch it every Monday here in the Philippines, then Carl died, Maggie was almost gone in scene, only Daryll, Miconne, Carol and the daughter of Rick were still in the scene, I hope in the final season, Rick will appear again and it will be more exciting if they will be all together again, please.
It would be great to see Rick come back and especially to see his daughter Julia and his son RJ this would be a good for all the walking dead characters and for the season 10
Rick Grimes Come Back!! The Show isn’t the same with out you !! For Real!!! Do the last and final season 11 for the “Fans” and “The walking Dead Family”!!! LETS HAVE A BIG BLOW OUT SEASON 11 ENDING THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGOT!! Its all about the Fans and that we all love you and adore you!! #TheWalkingDead#Family# Your a great actor!!
Absolutely!! Rick needs to finish what he started! He needs to see Judith and little RJ please get him to finish! We only have Rick, Daryl and Carol from the start! Please let him finish what he started!
Yeah he should come gor season 11 finale we need rick grimes and so does his daughter……
My feelings, thoughts and wishes are that Andrew Lincoln (AKA) Rick Grimes would come back and end the season with a happy note, as for the world of The Walking Dead, so much death, loss and uncertainty there should be a glimps of hope at the end to show everyone that people fight for what they believe is right even though its just a movie the concept is suppose to be good concurs all.
If Rick would come back it would make the show I would love to see him Would love to see him again please let him come back soon
Agree with everyone else, this show needs Rick, the fans need Rick, the fans need to see Rick unite with Judith to meet his Son and his brother Darryl….I dont care how they do it as long as they do, but I have a horrible feeling that the ending we want of Rick Michonne their kids and Darryl wont happen, Gimple still pulling the strings and knows he messed up killing Carl, but we shall see