Executive producer Scott Gimple of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live has shared details about how the next series developed from the original Rick Grimes movie trilogy. It was revealed that Rick’s journey would be concluded by three theatrical features after he left the main series in season 9.
But it was revealed in 2022 that the new TV series had taken the place of the movies. During the premiere of The Ones Who Live, Gimple talked with Screen Rant about how the initial film trilogy idea gave rise to the future Rick and Michonne spinoff.
Plans for the plot took a different turn because of both real-world developments and Danai Gurira’s availability, according to the executive producer. Check out what Gimple had to say below.
Why The Ones Who Live Will Work Better As A TV Show?
It truly came down to timing, situation, and an instantaneous world change. In the end, a few things changed in a very notable way in terms of — we worked on this with Andy [Andrew Lincoln] for a while, and Danai [Gurira] was available at the same time for as long as things transpired in the world.
After her time on the show ended, she realized that things would be drastically different. I mean, I believed that we would discuss it, but all of a sudden, it was here. To be honest with you, the way everything came together was fated since we truly enjoyed working with one another.
However, a lot of what transpired was unexpected and we could not have predicted the way the globe, the environment, or the availability of resources turned out.
The events that transpired after Rick was taken prisoner by the enigmatic CRM, a sizable, militarized organization of survivors, will be made clear in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. It will also highlight Michonne’s efforts to save him and return him to their primary Virginian villages.
The reason the plot changed from being a film trilogy to a TV spinoff is because of this attempt to save him and the new threat this gang poses.
Gimple’s statement suggests that Michonne’s involvement in the tale is what made them reevaluate how Rick’s journey would continue, even though it’s unknown what will happen in the show.
It makes more sense for the plot to centre on both of them because there can be a clear continuation of the story from when they both departed the main series.
Given how expansive these stories are, it makes sense to adapt the movies into a television series, which would give audiences a more condensed version of the story. The events of The Ones Who Live will determine how Rick and Michonne’s stories unfold throughout the zombie universe.
Therefore, the option of more seasons that deepen the pair’s story and the threat posed by the CRM arises from the TV show’s adaptation of the movies. The future show will probably receive a season 2 renewal, as both Daryl Dixon and Dead City have.
This implies that the plot may continue for longer than a trilogy of films, maybe contributing to the reunification of The Walking Dead’s universe.