AMC has announced a new spin-off for The Walking Dead in 2023 that will star Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes and Danai Gurira's Michonne. Furthermore, it was revealed this series will replace the planned Rick Grimes movie.
The spin-off was revealed at The Walking Dead's San Diego Comic-Con panel and looks to "continue the journey and love story" of Rick Grimes and Michonne. AMC is saying the series will "begin with six episodes in 2023," potentially leaving the door open for this being more than a mini-series.
"This series presents an epic love story of two characters changed by a changed world," the official description reads. "Kept apart by distance. By an unstoppable power. By the ghosts of who they were. Rick and Michonne are thrown into another world, built on a war against the dead… And ultimately, a war against the living. Can they find each other and who they were in a place and situation unlike any they've ever known before? Are they enemies? Lovers? Victims? Victors? Without each other, are they even alive — or will they find that they, too, are the Walking Dead?"
A seriously injured Rick Grimes was last seen in Season 9 of The Walking Dead being flown away by a helicopter, and Michonne left the show a season later after discovering Rick may still be alive. Soon, we will see the next chapter of their stories.
“This has been the most extraordinary journey playing Rick Grimes for the best part of a decade," Lincoln said. "The friendships I’ve made along the way are deep and lasting, so it’s fitting that I finally get to complete the story with Danai and Scott and the rest of the TWD family. I’m so excited to be returning to the screen as Rick, reuniting with Danai as Michonne, and bringing the fans an epic love story to add to the Walking Dead Universe.”
“Michonne and this TWD family has meant so much to me, and to continue the journey of these beloved characters, alongside Scott and Andy, both creatively and in front of the camera, and bringing The Walking Dead fans something truly special is just glorious. I can’t wait to pick up the katana again," Gurira said.
Lincoln was confirmed to lead three AMC TV films in 2019, and the first film was going to be released in theaters. Now, this currently unnamed series will take its place and will potentially explore more of these characters than any single film could do.
This news follows the reveal of the trailer and premiere date of The Walking Dead's final episodes and the first full trailer for the anthology series Tales of the Walking Dead.
For more on San Diego Comic-Con, check out our roundup of everything announced so far!
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.